7 2 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



[April 



but my delight may be imagined when the whole of them produced the 

 race and very beautiful Dasycampa rubiginea. — Rev. E. HallettTodd, 

 Strettin Vicarage, Ashby de la Zouch. 



Cirrhcedia xerampelina. — Once previous to this, in 1868, I had 

 similar good fortune with C. xerampelina. I dug from the roots of an 

 ash tree in Gloucestershire, no less than 24 pupae, all of which produced 

 this scarce and pretty species. Nor had I obtained them all, as many 

 others emerged at the same tree afterwards. — Id. 



Hibernation of Sphingid^e. In reply to Mr. Stott's enquiry on 

 this subject I may mention that I have a specimen of Dcikphila Nerii 

 which emerged from the pupa, cn 7th January, 1887. I believe the usual 

 time is in the summer. Perhaps this occurrence may help to throw 

 light on the abnormal appearance he mentions. — J. C. Warburg, 

 Cannes, South France. 



Egg Parasites. — Last summer I picked a sallow leaf with ova of 

 Lepidoptera on the underside. One morning when 1 opened the box, 

 I found it contained a host of ichneumons, and all of the ova empty. 

 I would be glad to know if ova are liable to be attacked by these para- 

 sites at any time or only when first deposited. — F. Milton, 164, 

 Stamford Hill, N., March 17th, 1890. 



There is little doubt but the parasite deposits her eggs in the newly 

 laid ova. The majority of lepidopterous ova very soon begin to de- 

 velope the larva within the shell, those attached to a deciduous leaf 

 would certainly do so. If development had commenced the contents 

 of the egg would not be sufficiently fluid for the egg parasite to absorb 

 it. Telcnomus phalanarum , Nees. (=belenus, Walk.) is a common egg 

 parasite on lepidoptera, very likely Mr. Milton's ichneumons were of 

 that species as they have been bred from ova found on sallows. I 

 once had a batch of over 300 ova of Bombyx trifolii, the whole of 

 which were infested, and each produced from seven to ten flies. 

 Smaller eggs may only contain one. Walker named six species as 

 egg parasites, this species I believe to be the commonest of the six. — 

 G. C. Bignell, Stonehouse, Plymouth. 



Repairing Insects.— Robinson's soluble glue, recommended by 

 Mr. Webb for repairing insects, does not appear to be very well 

 known in London. I have tried several oil shops, stationers, and 

 grocers, but have failed to get it anywhere. I have used shellac dis- 



