888 



THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



Proteus (common). There were a great many 

 Tragopoginis this year, which is not usually 

 very common. Typica (a few), Maura (not so 

 many as most years), i Pastinum, i Napta seen, 

 (generally more numerous,) and i Subtusa. I 

 also obtained the following geometers at 

 Sugsr this year ; — Rhomboidaria, Cratcegata, 2 

 Simulata (rather common), a few Obelise ata, 1 

 or 2 Elutata, Fhictuata, Fcrrugata (one or two), 

 Bilineata, Certata (a good many), C. Russata 

 (very common), Fulvata, and Pyraliata ; also 

 obtained a fine specimen of Leueophaa, caught 

 in our garden by the coachman, and have a 

 fine specimen of Papilionaria from a small 

 larva obtained this year in Smitterfield 

 bushes. I took 2 Popularis at light in August. 

 — R. J. Attye, Ingon Grange, Stratford-on- 

 Avon. 



EXCHANGE. 



Duplicates: — C. Brumata (males), A. 

 Ulmata, L. multistrigaria, L. conigera and im- 

 pura, 0. cubiculctris, N. /estiva— Tom- Robson, 

 Bellerby Terrace, West Hartlepool. 



I want a female Pied Flycatcher, and a 

 female Blue-throated Warbler. I could give 

 other birds, eggs, or insects in exchange.- S. 

 L. Mosley, Woodside Road, Beaumont Park, 

 Huddersfield. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Plate 6 is presented with this number. 



Mrs. Hodges, Walton. — The ichneumon 

 larvae sent, seem to be of the same class as 

 those mentioned by Mr. Harrison on p. 348. 

 We have had similar ones from H. oleracea, 

 which you will find mentioned on another 

 page. Plate 8 was sent out first for 

 convenience, 6 and 7 will come after. 



H. A., Borobridge. — Thanks for dipterous 

 pupae from Lubricipeda. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Dear Sirs, — I have much pleasure in en- 

 closing a few parasites, before referred to. 

 The specimen labelled B emerged from Abraxas 



grossulariata. The larva of this species is 

 pinkish on the back, and tapers towards the ! 

 mouth (?) They feed singly in the bodies of the 

 caterpilliars, which always pupate, but dying, 

 the chrysalis serves as a covering for the para- 

 site. They usually emerge from the head of 

 the pupa case, biting off the top very neatly and 

 evenly, as you will see from the specimen 

 enclosed. Yet this does not apply in all cases, 

 for they sometimes make their exit from the I 

 tips of the wing coverings, and one specimen 

 that I bred actually emerged from a hole 

 bitten in the last two segments of an Abraxas 

 chrysalis. The perfect insect appears during : 

 the latter part of July. It seems to be very 

 common. I collected upwards of thirty pupae 

 of the Magpie moth from a blackthorn bush. 

 Out of these came three moths, one being a 

 yellow variety ; twenty-five parasites, and the 

 remainder perished. I likewise obtained 

 what I at first took to be a different species, 

 from one of these pupae. I enclose a specimen 

 (A), and a figure of one noticable from its 

 bright colouring. Fig, B is one of the under 

 wings oftheexamplefigured, slightly magnified, 1 

 B, a corresponding member of the species de- 1 

 scribed (B), You will notice a difference in 

 the positions of the nervures upon each, 

 respectively. I should be glad to know 

 whether these variations are but sexual dis- 1 

 tinctions, and whether the two specimens I 1 

 send, and the one figured are of one and the ' 

 same denomination. Parasites of H. Pis: are " 



contained in the pill box, the larvae of these " 

 • - I « 



emerge from the living caterpillar, and, unlike 



those of C. Caja, spin their cocoons in a 01 



gregarious mass, of a silky consistence, and lc 



attached to the upright stems of plants. Like- j 



T 



wise common (Example enclosed). I have 



obtained another species from Pisi but the e 



imagines have not yet made their appearance. 3 



Their Cocoons are egg-shaped, and about Ds 



half an inch in length. Do not trouble to ^ ; 



return the specimens. Apologising for laying lri 



before you matter which, I fear, cannot claim P r 

 the possession of much interest. — I beg to 

 remain, faithfully yours, C. H. H. Walker, 



