362 



Is'OTES ON NORFOLK mTOMOLOGY—ZEPWOPTJERA. 



By T. E. Gunn. 



Part VII. ' 



jSToCTURNI. 



Acherontia atropos, var. On tlie 20t]i of September last, I was so fortu- 

 nate as to secure a curious variety of the larvae of this species from a lad who 

 stated it was obtained during the morning in a garden belonging to Mr. 

 Eichardson, in Mile End lane, near this city. It measured five inches in 

 length, and was of a uniform brownish olive, assumijig a yellowish hue along 

 the surface of its back, with the exception of the second and third segments, 

 these being white, inclining to a faint pinkish tint ; down the centre on this 

 peculiar marking, runs two streaks of dark amber which are intersected by a 

 very narrow line of straw colour. The cross markings along the centre of 

 its back are brown, as also are its anal claspers, the small oval dots in each of 

 the segements at the sides are blackish brown. The pinkish oblique markings 

 on its sides are very faint. The whole surface of the caterpillar (with the 

 exception of the two segments previously mentioned) is densely spotted with 

 small white dots, more particularly on its under parts. Its head is 

 yellow streaked with several very fine lines of black. Anal horn, pale 

 amber, feet, black. Not being able to procure the potato leaves, I gave it some 

 of the convolvulus upon which it fed very voraciously for a few days, it then 

 burrowed its way into the mould I had placed in the breeding cy,ge for its 

 reception. On the 5th of October it changed to its pupa stage from wdience 

 I had hoped the imago would emerge in due season. I was however, doomed 

 to disappointment, as a mischievous mouse found its way into the cage and 

 devoured it with other pupae, leaving me the empty cases only. This variety 

 of Acherontia atropos, according to Stainton's Manual of British Butterflies 

 and Moths, is of rare occurrence, therefore, thinking that these few details 

 may be of interest to some of your readers, I take this opportunity of recording 

 them. My brother, Mr. W. Gunn, executed for me an accurate sketch of 

 the above which I now have in my possession. 



Geometry. 



In reply to Mr. Hammond's query, see Naturalist, page 240, respecting 

 my notes on the Geometrse of the Norfolk Eens, I beg to observe that G. 

 munitata and L. salicata, were both taken by Mr. Winter in our fens, speci- 



