— 1-1. n a 



NOTES ON MR. PORRITT'S PAPER ON THE 

 BRITISH PYRALES. 



By F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S, 



Will you permit me to make a few remarks upon this paper, wliick 

 I have read with much interest ? 



Herhvla cespitalis. As Mr. Porritt remarks, this is a true clay 

 insect, yet I have taken it at tight. Last summer, one evening a 

 specimen flew into the light accompanied by Pempelia suhornatella. 

 The nearest locality for the latter is quite two miles away, and for 

 the former nearly as far — in both cases, of course, as far as my 

 knowledge goes. I have some recollection of having seen Herhula at 

 light on other occasions. 



EnnycJiia cingulalis. The larva of this must have other food plants 

 than Salvia p^^atensis, as it occurs very many miles from any Salvia. 

 Teucrium scorodonia is a likely plant, but if it feeds on Labiates, I 

 believe common thyme is as likely as any. Herhula too may feed on 

 Salvia and Plantago, but it is often found where there is neither. 

 With us it usually frequents grassy places on the hills, often high up. 



Pyrausta purpuralis and ostrinalis also often occur where there is no 

 Mentha of any kind. 



Scopula lutealis. I have been more fortunate than Mr. Porritt, for 

 I have seen the larva of this species. I noticed that a plant of the 

 melancholy thistle (Garduus heterophyllus) had been eaten by some 

 larva, and, on examining it, found several small green tortrix-like 

 caterpillars, in webs on the underside of the leaves. From these 

 I reared several specimens of lutealis. Lutealis frequently occurs 

 where there is neither coltsfoot nor melancholy thistle, so it probably 

 affects other Composites as well. 



Scopula alpinalis is not a British species. The insect known by 

 this name is uliginosalis Steph., and appears to be sufficiently distinct 

 from the true alpinalis which the late Mr. Doubleday sent me. 

 Ragwort may sometimes be the food-plant, but not often, unless the 

 larva lives at a very different altitude from the perfect insect. 

 Uliginosalis is usually found at a very high altitude, but in Eraemar, 

 where it is common, I have found it flying in woods as low as 1200 

 feet, where it may indulge its fancy for ragwort if it pleases. 



N. S., Vol. ii.— Mar., 1877. 



