SOCIETIES. 
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picked the same day, and stated that he had seen some fresh male 
catkins of sallow during the last fortnight. He also exhibited a series 
of Apamea ophiogramma from Stamford Hill, together with the pre- 
served larvae, pupae, and cocoons, and read the following notes on the 
life-history and habits of the species : — 
“Notes on Apamea ophiogramma. — During the summer of 1890, I 
had the good fortune to take eight specimens of this somewhat rare 
species in our garden at Stamford Hill. These were taken on dates 
ranging from July 15th to August 5th, and were mostly worn. Another 
specimen came into my hands which was taken at Southgate during 
the last week in July. Hearing that the larvae fed on the striped 
“ribbon grass” which is grown so extensively for ornamental purposes 
in our London gardens, I repeatedly searched several patches to which 
I had access. On May 22nd (1891), I noticed that the top shoots in 
several places were dying, and a further search revealed a small round 
hole either at or below the level of the ground. By cutting off these 
stems as low as possible, I obtained some larvae, of which the following 
is a description. About one inch long, slender body, thickest at the 
third segment, tapering rapidly towards the head, and very gradually 
towards the anus. Head small, dark shining brown in colour. Dorsal 
area, dirty flesh colour, slightly darker towards the spiracular line. 
Ventral area, cream white. Spiracles black. There is a brown 
corneous plate on the second segment, having a lighter indentation 
down the centre, and another brown plate on the last segment, also 
divided by a transverse crack at one third of its extent from the head. 
The twelfth segment has four indistinct black spots arranged in a 
square, the same marks are also to be traced on the other segments. 
The whole surface of the head and body is beset with minute bristles. 
It feeds on the interior of the stems and roots of the ribbon-grass, its 
presence being indicated by the dying top shoots of the plant. By 
cutting off all the affected stems and digging between the roots, I 
obtained twenty-five larvae which I put into a large garden-pot half full 
of earth, in which several roots of grass had been planted. They were 
evidently full-fed, so that the beginning to the middle of May would 
be the best time for collecting them. On June 3rd, I noticed that one 
of the larvae had spun up, and on June 5th a larva which was lying 
exposed, pupated. The pupa is rather slender and very active, 
reminding one of a small likeness of Cuspidia psi or C. megacephala. 
Colour, bright reddish-brown, slightly darker on the back of the 
abdomen. Wing cases, semi-transparent yellowish-brown. It has two 
long curved spikes in the tail. Enclosed in a slight silken cocoon on, 
or just below the surface of the ground. The greater part of mine 
spun up against the sides of the pot, on the surface of the ground, but 
a few went about an inch under the surface. Fifteen pupae were 
obtained, which emerged as follows: — July loth, four specimens; 
July nth, three specimens; July 12th, four specimens; July 13th, two 
specimens ; July 15th, one specimen, making a total of fourteen 
specimens. One died in the pupa state. Judging from these dates, 
one would infer that ophiogramma all emerge at about the same 
time, and that if good specimens are wanted, the exact date must be 
chosen, a theory which seems to be confirmed by my experience. With 
regard to the time of day that these specimens emerged, the majority 
