iSgi.j THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 51 



We have had but one sHght fall of snow, which did not lie forty- 

 eight hours, while for the last ten days there has been no frost at all. 

 On the famous " Banks," the abundance of grass-feeding larvae is ex; 

 traordinary, never even in South Devon have I seen them so forward 

 at this time of the year. 



Xanthogvapha and Anomala are quite full fed ; lichenea (very abundant 

 this season) and ovbona an inch long ; and the larvae in the woods are 

 quite as advanced. The hibernating Depressavicu are beginning to show 

 up on favourable evenings. Altogether the outlook for the coming 

 season is most promising. — E. Roper-Curzon, Howth, 29th Jan., 1891. 



Epunda lichenea. — The larva of Epunda lichenea feeds up raven- 

 ously indoors on groundsel, eating the buds and flowers. I have 

 some already down. They are very common and well advanced this 

 year. — Id., loth February, 1891. 



Stilbia anomala. — Stilhia anomala larvae are not easy to feed away 

 from the sea, and though they are full fed in February, they do not 

 pupate until June, and during that period they must not be dis- 

 turbed. They are a quiet, sluggish larva, and never exhibit any signs 

 of cannibalism, but live in peace not only with their own species, but 

 with other grass-feeding companions, such as ZaiitJiographa, Riirea, 

 &c. ■ Id., loth February, 1891. 



Gnophos obscurata,— The larvae of Gnophos ohscuvata feed on Wild 

 Thyme, and are very difficult to rear. They only feed in the hot sun, 

 and in confinement never seem to grow, except shorter ! Few ento- 

 mologists appear to meet with this larva ; they perhaps fall into the 

 mistake of looking for it in the evening, or after dark, whereas they 

 should look for it in the morning. About 11 a.m. is the best time to 

 find it, when the sun is bright and warm. — Id., loth February, 1891. 



Coleoptera. 



GOSSIPING NOTES ON BRITISH COLEOPTERA. 



BY G. A. LEWCOCK. 



Demetrias, Bonelli. —Referring to the derivation of the word 

 Demetrias, the Rev. W. F. Johnson suggests that the name of this 

 genus might possibly be "derived from the goddess Demeter, called 



