15(5 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
A. Galatliea (10), 
H. Papilionarius (2), 
E. Undulata (1), 
C. Quadrifasciaria (4), 
besides numerous common moths, and on 
Wednesday last I captured nearly thirty 
of T. W- album , within four miles of this 
place, and, had time permitted, could 
have taken double the number — so nume- 
rous were they on the blackberry blossom, 
but very few w'ere entirely perfect, which 
I have invariably found the case with 
this insect. Should any collector be in 
want of a few specimens, I shall be happy 
to supply them, and can also spare ten or 
twelve A. Paphia, in exchange for which 
I shall be glad of T. Pruni or T. Be tula;. 
C. Edusa or C. Hyale are also desiderata. 
■ — Harriet E. Mitchell, Deddington , 
Oxon ; August A. 
Ckilo obtusellus. — I have taken several 
specimens of this insect (which was 
figured in the ‘Entomologist’s Annual’ 
for 1856), at Horning Fen, this season. — 
G. King, 158, Higher Union Street, 
Torquay. 
Disappearance of Larva. — During last 
summer I introduced a variety of plants 
into my garden, in the hope of attracting 
moths and inducing them to deposit 
thereon eggs, so that at leisure I might 
be able to watch their habits closely in 
their natural state. <$. Populi came 
freely to the balsam poplars ; at one time 
oil one tree I counted twenty-three ; these 
I watched until full-fed, and then they 
disappeared one by one. I had no hesi- 
tation in believing they had gone down, 
and that at any time I could find the 
pupa) around the roots, more especially 
as the tree in question was planted on 
the lawn : finding the tree growing too 
large I was, in October, induced to re- 
move it, and made a most diligent search 
for the pupae, but not one was to be 
found, and no appearance of mole or 
mice. What became of them, is a ques- 
tion more easily asked than answered. 
In the winter I planted several huudrod 
plants of Sotidago virgaurea ; some were 
scattered about, others collected into a 
large bed : to my great delight I found a 
female Asteris had freely deposited her 
eggs, and I counted over one hundred 
larvae ; these progressed favourably until 
Saturday, August 1, when many of them 
were in their third moult, and on going 
into the garden to look at my pets, not 
one was to be found, — all had disap- 
peared. My garden is strictly private, 
so that no human being removed them. 
What did then ? Having introduced 
from Dover the common Mullein, I soon 
found it thickly infested with the larvae 
of C. Verbasci; some of these I have 
saved by placing a large gauze funnel 
over the entire plant: all that were 
feeding have gone down, — the rest, on 
the exposed plants, have suddenly dis- 
appeared. On several balsam poplars I 
had a very large number of the larvae of 
Cerura vinula feeding ; the whole have 
disappeared. Now for the solution : my 
garden adjoins a large wheat field, and 
among the trees in the shrubbery hosts of 
sparrows seek refuge : when disturbed by 
the rook-boys here is their sanctuary, and 
for this boon I believe the cunning rascals 
have repaid me by devouring all my 
larvae. I attribute it entirely to them, 
and were it not for similar causes no 
doubt vegetation would soon be brought 
to a stand-still, from the havoc inflicted 
by larvae. P. Buccphala is at this 
moment doing great damage, laying en- 
tirely bare large branches of trees, in- 
festing elm, willow, beech, See. I shall 
feel particularly obliged to any collector, 
more especially to our northern friends, 
if they will remember me in their captures 
of larvae, and send me some specimens 
for illustration. I have a large number 
of bred insects to give away, and will 
forward my list when the season for col- 
lecting allows a little more leisure time. 
— Captain Cox, Eordwick House, Ford- 
wich ; August 7. 
Perns offered for Insects . — I am in 
