THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
11 
ihe Dinarda is not uncommon in the 
nest of F. sanguinea. I have not been 
successful in my search after novelties in 
the nest of F. cunicularia, but as the ant is 
generally distributed, and not at all un- 
common about London, I still hope to 
find some novelty in the nest of that 
species. For the instruction of those 
who have not studied the Formicidae, 
and are not well acquainted with the 
species and their habits, I may add that 
F. sanguinea closely resembles the Wood 
Ant (F. rufa), hut it mines its galleries 
in banks, and particularly at this period 
of the season swarms with slaves, the 
latter being individuals of the species 
Formica fusca. — F. Smith, 27, Richmond 
Crescent , Islington , N. 
Correction of an Error. — I find I have 
described the species of Hallomenus as 
fuscus (Int. vol. viii. p. 179) ; this ought 
to be humeralis, and is the species de- 
scribed by Mr. Janson in the ‘Annual’ 
for 1859, p. 142. In quoting the record 
of its capture into the ‘Zoologist’ it is 
said I took it “ near Lee.” Of course 
every one will believe the statement, but 
no one had my authority for saying so. 
It was not taken near there. — J ohn 
Scott, 13, Torringlon Villas , Lee, S.E. ; 
October 4. 
Hymenoptera. 
Sirex Gigas. — A very fine specimen of 
this insect (a female) was presented to 
me the other day by a cabinet-maker in 
the town, who found it in his shop. He 
says it is the only one he ever saw. 
Whether it is an imported specimeu or 
bred in the neighbourhood (I have taken 
one here before) is doubtful, but more 
likely the former. — R. Tyrer, jun., Hill 
House, Eye ; September 29. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Food of the Larva of Sphinx Liguslri. 
— Mr. Comyn seems surprised at finding 
the larvae of S. Ligustn on holly. I beg 
to observe that I have frequently taken 
it off that tree, as well as from privet, 
laurustinus, lilac, ash, guelder rose, wild 
guelder rose, and another garden shrub, 
with the name of which I am not ac- 
quainted. The larvae are nothing like 
so plentiful this year as they were last, 
owing, I suppose, to the unusually wet 
season. — Gervase F. Mathf.w, Raleigh 
House, near Barnstaple ; October 2. 
Food of the Larva of Sphinx Ligustri. 
— Seeing the notice by Mr. Comyn in 
last week’s ‘ Intelligencer’ of the capture 
of S . Ligustri on holly, I beg to state 
that I have very often found them on it, 
especially the variegated sort, and that I 
find them here also on the laurustinus 
and ash, as well as on the trees and 
shrubs he mentions. I merely state this 
to show that it is by no means an un- 
usual occurrence. — J.S.Dell, 12 6, Navy 
Row, Morice Town, Denonport ; Oct. 1 . 
Larvce of Lasiocampa Rubi. — From 
what I can learn there seems to be a 
misconception as to when these larvae 
are full fed. I have been told by several 
correspondents that Mr. Doubleday feeds 
them in the spring. Last spring I 
got some at the beginning of March, 
and another entomologist took several 
nearly a month before that. I found 
them abundant at the beginning of 
April, but even then the food- plant 
(Crane’s-bill) had not begun to show. In 
the belief that they would feed before 
spinning I kept them in the coldest place 
1 could until I got food, but they refused 
to eat, and died one by one. I then 
brought them in, plated them in the sun 
and in front of the lire, and they begun 
to spin at once, and in three days were 
all in cocoon, but two or three, which 
changed without spinning. All these 
must have been full fed in the autumn. 
Your correspondent, Mr. T. Ransome 
(vol. viii. No. 194, p. 95) has noticed the 
same thing; his larva;, alter being kept 
all winter in an ice-house, passed into 
