1888. 78 
Note on the pupa of Eupithecia consignata. — In the last number of the " Ento- 
mologist," Mr. Crewe gives a description of the larva of this species. Through 
the generous kindness of Mr. Hutchinson, I have also reared a few larv». My 
object in writing these few lines is to draw attention, not to the larva, but to the 
pupa. It is quite unlike that of any Eupitliecia with which I am acquainted. It 
is more like that of a Tortrix than of a Geometra, very long and slender, and 
twisting the abdominal portion in a veiy active manner. I think there is little 
doubt but that the pupa might be found in orchards, under moss, or behind loose 
bark. The admirers of the genus Eupithecia are greatly indebted to the discoverer 
of the larva of this very pretty species. — J. Greene, Cubley Rectory, Sudbury, 
Derby, July, 1868. 
[Mr. Crewe's contribution reached us too late for insertion in the July number 
of the Magazine ; and it is contrary to our rule to print any communication of this 
nature that may have already appeared in another publication. Mr. Greene's note 
renders it advisable that we should relax the rule in this instance. We ask our 
sontributors to bear in mind, that unless their papers be received by the 18th of 
sach month, they stand little chance of appearing in the following number. — Eds.] 
Observations on the habits of the larva of Zygcena nubigena. — Through Mr. 
Birchall's kindness in sending me the eggs, I am enabled to give some account of 
bhe early stages of this species, but the discrepancies that exist between my 
iccount and those of other observers show how desirable it is to make further 
investigation. 
A small batch of eggs (small because I could not undertake many) received 
July 4th, 1867 ; the larvae hatched on the 10th of the same month. Finding, from 
the " Chapter on Minos," in Stainton's Annual for 1862, that it was likely either 
Thymus serpyllum or Pimpinella saxifraga would prove to be the proper food, I 
procured both, but there was no doubt as to which these larvee preferred ; the 
thyme was eaten at once, whilst I could not see that the Pimpinella was even 
tasted. 
These larvae, about ten in number, grew very slowly, and (with one exception, 
vyho had grown to twice the size of his fellows, but came to grief,) were no 
bigger than a leaf of the wild thyme, and indeed of pretty much the same figure in 
outline, when they settled down for hybernation about the beginning of September. 
They assembled in two little groups of four or five each, and spinning some silk on 
the under-side of the stoutest stems of their food-plant, rested quietly till near the 
end of February. Mr. Birchall had warned me that in their native locality they 
probably had little experience of frost, so I placed the flower-pot with large glasa 
cylinder, which enclosed the plant of thyme, in a garden-frame under a high wall 
with south aspect ; there was no hotbed in the frame, but as it received all the 
rays of the sun from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., a considerable amount of warmth waa 
kept up in it, compared to the temperature outside. In fact the thyme continued 
to grow and thicken all through the winter, until my little larvae were quite hidden ; 
and it would at any time have taken a sharp eye to distinguish them, whilst 
hybernating, from a withered thyme-leaf, so much were they of the same colour, 
and furnished with little hairs of the same length. 
