yo [August, 
was read ; among other interesting matter, the author's experience as to the 5 
fecundity of the queen, during life, was given as 108,000 eggs. This, to any one 
iminitiated in the wonders of the hive, would appear to be a very large number. 
Mr. Desborough in his prize essay, I believe, calculated the duration of the life of 
a queen as averaging about five years, giving an annual deposition of eggs at about 
21,600. Since this estimate was published, in the report of the Proceedings of the 
Society, the Devonshire Bee-Keeper has published his experience, and it is truly 
marvellous to contemplate the two results. We are not told by Mr. Desborough 
what was the particular description of time that furnished these results. We may 
confidently rely upon the information of both parties; but we cannot but feel 
certain that either the calculations were made under very different circumstances, 
or that the fecundity of queens varies immensely. 
According to the experience of the learned German Apiarian, Dzierzon, the 
average duration of life in the queen is four years, and that a prolific queen lays 
not less than 1,000,000 eggs ; and this opinion is endorsed by the Devonshire Bee- 
Keeper. He further informs us that it is nothing unusual to see from 15,000 to 
20,000 cells occupied by brood during three months of the year. Then we are to 
add to this period the spring and autumn months, when breeding takes place ; 
during the first in an increasing ratio, and during the latter in a decreasing ratio ; 
until, in October or November, it entirely ceases. Then we are to consider that, 
during this period, the tenants of the brood-cells are removed every three weeks. 
From this calculation we are enabled to form some idea of the fecundity of a 
prolific queen. — Fredk. Smith, British Museum, June, 1868. 
Description of the larva of Eupithecia consignata, Bork. — Towards the end of 
May, Mrs. Hutchinson, of Grantsfield, kindly sent me seven eggs of Eup. consignata, 
laid by a ? taken in Herefordshire by her daughter. They all hatched in the 
course of a few days ; and I have reared six larvae, all of which have now spun up. 
I have much pleasure in sending you a description of this hitherto almost 
unknown larva. 
" Long, slender, tapering slightly towards the head. Ground colour grass- 
green, slightly tinged with yellow. Segmental divisions yellowish. Central dorsal 
line very slender, dark purplish-red, enlarged at the base of each segment into a 
spear-head shaped blotch. Dorsal blotches bordered with yellow, and becoming 
confluent on the capital and caudal segments. Head somewhat broad, green, very 
slightly marked with purplish-i'ed. 
Spiracular line puffed, rather paler green than the rest of the body ; blotched 
into purplish-red on a few of the central segments, and more or less bordered with 
straw colour. Central ventral line whitish. Body somewhat wrinkled, studded with 
a very few short, slender whitish hairs. Fed on apple. Full-fed June 14th — 19th." 
Some few years since I beat two of these larvae from oak in Suffolk, and another 
from hazel in Hampshire. I suspected at the time that they were the larvae of 
Eup. consignata; but, as they died in the pupa state, I was unable to verify my 
suspicions. This larva closely resembles that of Evp. esniguata. — H. Harpur Cbewe, 
The Rectory, Drayton-Beaucharap, Tring, .Tune 22nd, 1868. 
