Insects. 



6213 



although people look incredulous when you mention having tal^en one under those 

 circumstances, and although they at once point out slruclural reasons why they should 

 not be so taken, still there is no disputing the fiict. May it not he just possible that 

 although they cannot imbibe the sweets, the smell may prove as attractive to them as 

 the taste is to the Noctuse. 1 may mention also that many of the genus Lithosia come 

 regularly to sweets; two or three instances have come under my own notice, and 

 several others have been recorded. I should be glad to hear if any entomologist 

 has met with other Bombyces under similar circumstances, and if so, trust that they 

 will record it in the 'Intelligencer.' — Robert McLachlan ; Forest Hill, July 1, 1858. 

 —Id. 



Two Piipce in one Cocoon of the Silkivorm. ■ — One of my juvenile brothers, who 

 keeps silkworms, was surj)rised yesterday by finding two pupa* in one cocoon. The 

 cocoon is about twice the ordinary size, but of the same shape exactly as if made by 

 one insect, and the two pupse are quite loose inside without any separation. What 

 seems rather remarkable is, that nearly the whole of the two threads of silk wound off 

 as easily as if there had been but one. As 1 never heard of any similar case, this 

 struck me as rather remarkable. Perhaps you may have met with something like it. 

 I have the cocoon now, reduced to transparency by the removal of the silk, and should 

 you think it sufficiently outrd I shall be happy to show it to you. — T, Wildman ; 

 Solicitors'' Office., Customs., B.C., July 29, 1858. 



Agrotis lucernea. — A single specimen of this insect was captured by myself, at 

 Folkestone, about six weeks ago. — Sidney Co oyer ; Stone Bridge^ Tottenham., Augiist2, 

 1858. 



New Mode of capturing Nonagria geminipunc la, — Being occupied in collecting 

 the larvae and pupae of N. Typhee, the attention of myself and brother was drawn to 

 the traces of larvae on the stems of Arundo Phragmites. The larvae, of which the 

 figure in Humphrey and Westwood (N. geminipuncta) is pretty accurate, were in 

 colour yellowish white, the head brownish black, a plate on the prothoracic and caudal 

 segments without spots, but the meso- and meta thorax had a ring of minute dark 

 brown dots in pairs, the other segments with two dorsal and two lateral dots, and the 

 spiracles black; from these dots arise small setae. These larvae did not C(mfine them- 

 selves to one reed only, having in many cases attacked some half-dozen of the smaller 

 plants before depositing themselves, full-fed, in the lower internodal spaces of the 

 largest. Again, the window, which was never absent, was almost but not quite inva- 

 riably above the entrance-hole, and beyond these two apertures was a wall of piih 

 cemented together with silk, — a very necessary precaution, as the remainder of the reeds 

 was frequently filled with water. We found as many as four pupae in one internode, 

 and sometimes six in an entire reed. The imago, which proved to be N. gemini- 

 puncta, emerges from the chrysalis between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m., being appa- 

 rently influenced by the darkness, as an artificial twilight had the effect of bringing 

 them out at mid-day. As the reeds frequently collapsed in drying, we were obliged in 

 most cases to cut out the pupae, which came out equally well. We have a few to 

 spare. — W, D. Crotch; Uphill House., Weston-super-Mare., August 12, 1858. 



Epione Advenaria. — A single male of this local insect was taken at night, at 

 W^arren Gore, Lewes, this summer, by Mr. John Porter. — Edward Newman. 



Botys lancealis. — This has been an extraordinarily good season with us for Botys 

 lancealis. Last year my brother, after exerting great diligence, thought himself very 

 lucky in securing a dozen specimens. This year, however, in a path running through 



