1889] 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 113 



Villers we are bound to jump to the conclusion that it must be so. A 

 method of reasoning not usually accepted, though it would account for 

 some of the singularities in the Entomological List. 

 55, Lincoln's Inn Fields, 16th April, 1889. 



Notes on the probable origin of last year's 

 Deilephila Galii, W.V. 



By W. H. TUGWELL. 



The extraordinary number of larvae of D. galii that were found in 

 various parts of England last season, naturally re-opens the old ques- 

 tion of their probable origin. It is hard to believe that this large and 

 handsome larva, one that always feeds in the broad, open daylight, 

 could be overlooked year after year by the many collectors always on 

 the look out for it. In such well- worked spots as Deal and Wallasey 

 sand hills hardly a day passes without being searched. 



The so-called " blown-over theory " is perhaps very generally 

 accepted, still it has never been settled by proof, merely probabilities. 

 Lately I have been collecting information, that to my mind very 

 materially strengthens if not confirms this view, as the following facts 

 will show. 



In February last, I exhibited at the South London Natural His- 

 tory and Entomological Society, a short but fine series of D. galii, 

 that I had forced out from the larvae I had captured at Deal last 

 September. After the meeting, one of our members (Mr. F. Oswald) 

 came to me saying how much he had admired my exhibit, but con- 

 tinued he, " are they not extremely small ? " This surprised me 

 greatly, as I thought my specimens the largest bred English examples 

 I had ever seen. Afterwards, on thinking the matter over, I remem- 

 bered that my friend Mr. J. T. Williams, who in company with Mr. 

 Oswald, had captured 18 specimens of Galii in St. Margaret's Bay, 

 had also spoken of their great size. I wrote Mr. Williams to kindly 

 send me on the measurement of his captured males and females, and 

 on getting these, the size was so surprising, I determined to write to 

 others who had taken them. 



Continental Galii are generally much larger than English bred 

 specimens. Mr. R. South tells me there are two emergences (broods) 

 on the Continent, that of July being a larger and bolder type than 

 those later in the autumn. The July insects measure, males, 3 ins. to 



