196 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
ever, well known, that many larvae jnst 
previous to entering the pupa state 
change their colour so much as scarcely 
to be recognized. This occurs commonly 
with the larva of Dictaa, which, when 
full-grown, frequently assumes a violet, 
or violet-brown colour. This, I think, 
explains the fact, that broum larvae are 
occasionally met with. No one, who had 
seen the two larvae, could possibly mis- 
take Dictaa for Dictceoides. The latter 
is a rich chocolate-brown with a deep 
yellow line on each side, an elevated 
anal line, and always feeds on birch ; 
while Dictaa is found on the various 
poplars : never I believe on birch. — Rev. 
Joseph Greene, Playford , Ipswich ; 
September 6, 1856. 
Larva: of Dictaa and Dictceoides . — I 
regret having to differ from Herr Zeller, 
but I have not any hesitation in saying 
that the larva of Leiocampa dictaa varies 
from very light drab, sometimes with a 
greenish tinge, to dark olive, greenish 
brown, but never has the same glass-like 
appearance, or beautifully purplish tinge, 
which at once distinguishes the larvae of 
Diclaoides from Dictaa, neither has 
Dictaa the broad yellowish white stripe 
of Dictaoides. I have frequently seen 
the capture of Dictaoides larva reported 
as taken on willows and poplars : all such 
reports are mistakes, and only perpetuate 
the almost stereotyped error that these 
dark larvae are Dictaoides ; they are the 
brown larvae of Dictaa, which Professor 
Zeller emphatically maintains are Dic- 
taoides. The larvae of Dictaa found 
upon sallows are generally light; on 
poplars and birch they vary, particularly 
upon birch. Dictaoides feeds exclusively 
upon birch, and will not live on any other 
food! As both are now feeding, those 
who doubt this may ascertain the fact 
for themselves, by beating birch, sallows 
and poplars. Speaking ol larvae reminds 
me that it were well if English authors 
omitted copying the descriptions and 
food of larva; from foreign works, except 
w'hen they are correct, which is not always 
the case. Continental authors seem to 
have copied each other; and in England 
the same thing has been, and is being, 
done to such an extent, that I iear the 
rising generation of entomologists will 
have to do as we have done, viz. undo 
much we thought we had learned, before 
they get at the truth. — C. S. Gregson, 
Stanley, near Liveipool ; September 6, 
1856. 
Larva of Dictaa and Dictaoides . — I 
scarcely think Professor Zeller is quite 
right with respect to the larva; of Leio- 
campa dictaa and dictaoides. The larva 
of Dictaa is not unfrequently of a 
greenish brown hue, though never so 
dark as that of Dictaoides, which is well 
described by Mr. Doubleday in your 
‘Manual,’ and is at once distinguished 
from Dictaa by its deep purplish hue 
and clear rich yellow lateral line ; when 
young, however, it is much more like 
the adult Dictaa, while Dictaa, in its 
infancy, is yellowish green, like Lopho- 
pteryx camelina, with a very distinct 
anal tubercle tinged with red. — R. F. 
Logan, Hawthornbrae , Duddinystone , 
near Edinburgh ; September 8, 1856. 
Larva of Dictaa and Dictaoides . — I 
have once bred a few Dictaoides from 
the egg, and find the following note 
about the larva made at the time: — 
“ Lead-colour, inclining to lilac, with 
broad sulphur-coloured lateral stripe, and 
a hump behind.” These refused poplar 
and willow, and fed on birch, which I 
tried after losing about one hundred of 
the larva?. 1 supposed them to be 
Dictaa at the time. Oh ! that the 
‘Manual’ had then existed! — Bernard 
Smith, Marlow, Bucks; September 8, 
1856. 
Lcpidoptera at Ramsgate . — While at 
Ramsgate, about a week ago, 1 had the 
pleasure of finding a larva of Charo- 
campa Porcellus ; one of Sm. J'ilia was 
found there also. Amongst other things 
Cynthia Cardui has been very abun- 
