146 fNoveml 
as a sine quA non) we find Mr. Hawley's capture, already referred to, gladly availi 
itself of the provision thus made for it ; while Mr. Bedell's, on the contrary, i 
dining the sapid material, devoted its constructive energies to dead leaves (Zo 
p. 1140). Another of Mr. Hawley's retired into the earth (Zool., p. 1228). Otl 
four, taken near York, 1856 — 1858, all ttirned pupse, in Mr. Anderson's words, " 
or under the earth without the least appearance of a cocoon " (Zool., p. 6284). 
bark wigwam was the selected resting-place of one which fell to Mr. Barrett's 
(Ent. Mo. Mag., iii., p. 37). So much for its metamorphotic efiforts in captivi 
Or its natural doings we have, fortunately, one record to guide us in spelling ( 
its true histoiy. Mr. H. Moore was the lucky observer. " Going along a sar 
lane here (Albury, Surrey) on September 1st (writes that gentleman), I obsen 
what appeared to be sawdust sprinkled on some bramble-leaves. I thought 
probably the work of a larva, and so looked for some stem whence it might hi 
fallen. I now found an old dead bramble-stick, one end of which was hollow 
I split this down about a couple of inches, and disclosed a full-fed larva of Acrony 
alni. On looking at it two or three days later I found it had changed. The pupa i 
rich deep chestnut colour, and is head uppermost in the stem. There is no i 
pearance of silk or cocoon, and the thin layer of pith above the pupa is V( 
slightly stuck together." (Zool., p. 8211.) The reason why my recent capti 
deserted its prickly abode was doubtless that suggested by Mr. Buckler, viz., tl 
the stick provided was not long enough to satisfy its energies, and to afford it i 
complete concealment it desired. The three recorded finds of the pupa throw 
further Ught upon the matter. One is stated to have been " off hawthorn" (Zoi 
p. 2883), whatever that may mean ; the other two are without particulars. 
Its appearance in the imago state seems to take place between the middle 
May and the middle of June ; May 22nd and Juno 23rd being the earliest a 
latest dates of its capture at large noted. All such captures appear to have b( 
" at sugar." Once only do I find an autumnal emergence to have occurred. 1 
larva, to which reference has been made as captm-ed by Mr. Hawley on June 27 
spun up the next day in rotten bark, and emerged September 18th of the sa; 
year. One taken by the late Mr. Stone, and kept in a warm room, made 
appearance February 22nd (Zool., p. 7972) ; and Mr. Pickard-Cambi-idge has 1: 
it out on the 22nd of May in captivity. 
In one state or other Acronycta alni has occurred in most of the southern a 
midland counties of England ; but, apparently, not farther north than Lancash 
and Yorkshire ; — which last county, however, seems, singularly enough, to be i 
British metropolis of the species, since considerably more than a fourth of i 
recorded captures have been made within its limits. It has not been reported fn 
Wales ; and only a solitary specimen from Ireland. 
This about exhausts all I have been able to learn of the natural history of tl 
interesting species. — H. A. Stowell, BreadsaU Kectory, near Derby, Se;ptem\ 
8th, 1868. 
Spilonota laHciana. — ^This insect is not rare amongst the larches on the Lick 
HUls near here, and has a black variety like its near neighbour. Is this a speci 
or is it not rather like Ditula angnstiorana, an example of an insect feeding 
