Insects. 



6031 



birch: this larva is very similar to that of brumaria, but more transparent and 

 the lines less distinct ; it has a brown head, thus differing from the larva of 

 brumaria, the head of which is always green. I have bred several specimens of 

 Ypsipetes ruberaria from larvje obtained on Wimbledon Common in September ; 

 they fed in curled-up leaves of sallow: it is a dirty white or grayish larva, and is 

 slightly hairy. Of Phsesyle miaria I have bred several specimens from larva? 

 obtained from oak and birch, in Headley Lane, in the middle of August: it is a 

 long slender green larva, with two forks projecting beyond the abdomen. — W, Machin ; 

 35, William Si., Globe Fields, Mile End, March 9, 1858.— Id. 



Undescribed Geometra Larvce. — I bred a specimen of C. miata this autumn 

 from a larva beaten off alder, full fed August 18: it so closely resembled the 

 larva of C. russata that at the time I did not detect the difference: the pupa was 

 covered with a bloom like that of C. trapetzina. I had seven or eight larvae of C. 

 obliquaria in 1856, and bred the perfect insect in 1857: I beat them off broom 

 {Spartium scoparium) towards the middle of August : this larva closely resembles that 

 of C. spartiata, but is a much darker green, and wants the yellowish tinge; it is 

 also thicker towards the head, and not so smooth : I think there can be no doubt 

 whatever that Lyonet is entirely mistaken in supposing that it feeds on bramble; I am 

 convinced that it is exclusively a broom feeder: the perfect insect is out from the 

 middle of May to the middle of July: I took it, this last season, without intermission 

 between May 20 and July 7: the larva of C. spartiata is full fed in June and July ; 

 it has sometimes a regular yellow stripe on each side. M. Guenee remarks upon 

 the difficulty of rearing the larva of E. cervinaria through the winter: any one who 

 takes the trouble may find the larva abundantly in June by searching among the 

 leaves of Malva sylvestris, and sometimes on the common garden hollyhock : it is 

 then not at all difficult to rear, but must have plenty of air, as it perspires very freely. 

 — H, Harpur Crewe ; Stowmarket, March 9, 1858. — Id, 



Successful removal of the Eggs of the Ichneumon from a Larva of Deilephila 

 Gala. — One day, towards the end of October last, when staying at Deal, we were 

 looking for the larva of Deilephila Galii, after the ground had been carefully hunted 

 both by Mr. Stevens and myself, so that we scarcely hoped to meet with any, and were 

 about to relinquish our search in despair, when we came upon a fine larva nearly full 

 fed. This was immediately boxed and carried home in triumph. On opening the 

 box, however, our satisfaction was considerably diminished on perceiving some twenty 

 or thirty whitish spots, which turned out to be Ichneumon eggs. Having heard that 

 the attempt to remove the eggs was sometimes successful, we determined to make the 

 experiment. Our first trial was with a fine needle, but this proved a complete failure, 

 as the needle would not penetrate the hard shell of the egg : we then tried to crush 

 the eggs with a small pair of fine-pointed forceps ; this, though a satisfactory mode of 

 destroying the eggs, caused great annoyance to the larva, which jerked itself into a 

 circle when they were applied, so that we feared it would impale itself on the sharp 

 points. The servant then brought a large darning needle, and this proved a most 

 efficient instrument, piercing the eggs, and, in some cases, lifting them off entire, 

 without apparent inconvenience to the caterpillar. In a few days it laid up to change, 

 and soon appeared a fine healthy pupa. In the middle of December it was placed in 

 a small fern-glass by the fire, the pupa covered with moss, which was kept constantly 

 damped, and about a month afterwards came out a fine female, without the slightest 

 blemish. — J. T. Syme ; 11, Gower Street^ Bedford Square, February 18, 1858. — Id. 



