216 



THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



my collection. I never saw a British ex- 

 ample. 



With regard to the frequent error made 

 by collectors sending out Verbasci under 

 the name of the rarer species, it arises in 

 this way. The larva of Verbasci feeds on 

 mullein (Verbascum tJtapsus), and that of 

 ScrojjhularicB on figwort (Scrophnlaria no- 

 dosa and aquatica. But the larvae of Ver- 

 basci feed equally readily on the figworts 

 as on the mullein, from which the species 

 takes its name, and those who have found 

 them feeding on either of the figworts have 

 fallen into the error of assuming they were 

 SorophularicB larvae. The larvae are so 

 nearly allied that it is difficult in printed 

 descriptions to find any difference. Accord- 

 ing to Stainton, the upper part of the pro- 

 legs of Verbasci are black, and of Scrophu- 

 larice yellow. The face of the latter is also 

 yellow, while that of Verbasci is yellow, spot- 

 ted with blue. I never saw the larva of 

 Sc?'ophularicB. 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



N. Subrosea at Derby. — Mr. Pullen has 

 kindly complied with our wish to have 

 further information as to the occurrence of 

 N. subrosea at Derby, and there appears to 

 be no doubt it did occur there until within 

 the last few years, when the land on which 

 it was taken near Little Eaton Junction was 

 brought under cultivation. The last speci- 

 men was taken by Mr. M. Hill of Little 

 Eaton, and Mr. Pullen fears it is now a thing 

 of the past. To us, the recent occurence of 

 this insect is of considerable interest, and as 

 it would appear the locality was not of great 

 extent, it is quite possible that the insect 

 may yet turn up at some place or other 

 where suitable conditions obtain, but where, 

 it has only been partially worked, or per- 

 haps not at all. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



All communications to be sent to J. E. Eobson, 15, 

 Northgate, Hartlepool; or to S. L. Mosley Beau- 

 mont Park, Huddersfield. 



F. B. Rathowe^j. — Your plant is Sweet 

 Cicely (Myrr^is odorata). It was for- 

 merly used as a pot herb, and is probably 

 a garden escape, not being indigenous in 

 Ireland. Grindon says of it,— "Sweet 

 Cicely is one of the first of the Umbelli- 

 feras to open its flowers, though they are 

 often sorely nipped by the east wind. The 

 pure white umbels are at first almost 

 .concealed in the great tufts of delicate 

 and yellowish green foliage ; afterwards 

 they become more elevated, and are con- 

 spicuous from a long distance. The odour 

 of the plant resembles aniseed ; the brown 

 fruits are an inch long and deeply fur- 

 rowed." The leaves are often splashed 

 with white blotches, as you say, which 

 are very conspicuous ; but this character 

 is not constant enough to raise it to the 

 rank of a variety, and does not appear to 

 be named in the botanical hand-books. 

 The plant is common in the north of 

 England. 



EXCHANGE. 



Full fed larvae of Carpini, also Velleda 

 and male Carpini. Desiderata very numer- 

 ous. — F. Ellis, 32, Swallow Street, Hud- 

 dersfield. 



Duplicates. — Agestis, Geryon, Z. trifolii, 

 Subsericeata, Albulata, Clctthrata, Conigera, 

 Impura, Pallens, Rurea, Testacea, Basilinea, 

 Gemina, Fasciuncula, Literosa, Tenebrosa, 

 Valligera, Tritici, Carpophaga, Capsincola, 

 Cucubali, &c, &c, &c. Desiderata very 

 numerous — any common variable species 

 wanted, especially Lomaspilis marginata.— 

 John E. Robson, Hartlepool. 



Duplicates. — Larvae of N. augur. Desi- 

 derata. — Other larvae and pupae. — Miss 

 Prescott Decie, Bockleton Court, Tenbury 



