44 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[February 



the reference to Ray being apportioned to Phlaas. It would therefore 

 be hardly correct to say Virgaurea is the oldest name of Phlceas. It 

 would be equally or even more correct to say that Hyale, Linn, is the 

 oldest name of Edusa. — C. W. Dale, Glanvilles Wooton. 



The error m the article named was mine, not Mr. Dale's, who 

 gave me the same references as Dr. Buckell does ; but I referred to 

 Staudinger before I used it, and finding there " Fn. Su. 285 " as the 

 first authority for the name, I foolishly took Staudinger's reference 

 instead of Dale's. The reference in Staudinger should have been 

 " Fn. Su. II., 285," which would have made all the difference. Those 

 interested in synonymy had better correct their copies of Staudinger 

 accordingly.— John E. Robson, Hartlepool. 



Ravages of Anobium Tesselatum. — The Rev. J. E. G. Farmer, 

 Vicar of Arundel, is calling attention to the " deplorable " state of 

 the roof of the old historic church, at Arundel, which is honeycombed 

 by " the worm known as Anobium tesselatum,''' 1 to such an extent as to 

 be positively unsafe. The church which is one of the finest in 

 Sussex, was erected in 1380, but was restored at great cost some 16 

 years ago, and 1 presume the damage referred to must have been done 

 during that time. I myself saw a floor, a few weeks ago, in a dwelling 

 house in Hartlepool, that was so completely destroyed by this beetle 

 that it could be crumbled away in the fingers. — John E. Robson. 



Conchological Society for London. — An attempt is to be 

 made to form a Conchological Society, with headquarters in London: 

 It is proposed to hold monthy meetings from November to June, for 

 exhibition of specimens, and discussion of papers, such papers to be 

 published and distributed to the members. A subscription of 10/6, 

 without entrance fees at any rate at first is estimated to be sufficient 

 to cover expenses. A number of well-known gentlemen have already 

 expressed their approval and willingness to join the Society, but a few 

 more members are wanted. Will any who are disposed to assist in 

 the matter communicate with Mr. E. R. Sykes, 13, Doughty st., W.C. 



Prionus coriarius: — A short time ago, one of my nephews sent 

 me a specimen of this fine Longicorn, which he had taken at a street 

 lamp at Streatham Hill, Surrey, last autumn. Is it not rather an unusual 

 occurrence to take this insect at light ? — A. Ford, St Leonards-on-Sea. 



Colias Edusa at Ventor. — The last Clouded Yellow I had the 

 pleasure of seeing last year was at Ventnor, in the Isle of Wight, 

 where I observed it on the wing on 29th October. — C. W. Dale, 

 Sherborne, Dorset. 



Bombyx rubi. — I saw larvae of this species sunning themselves on 

 the 29th January. It is a sign of a very mild winter to find them out 

 so early. — John E. Robson, Hartlepool. 



5 FE3.95 



