1807.] 135 
Now if moths captured in September and October lay eggs immediately, and 
the larvse are hatched within a week, I cannot think the species is likely to hyber- 
nato in the perfect state ; and if these September larvae feed away so rapidly, we 
cannot suppose that those captured in the following July can have remained ton 
months in that state. 
I think we must conclude that there are two broods, one on the wing in May 
and June, the other in August, September, and October. 
Suffusa, I know, hybernates in the perfect state, but then it does not pair till 
the Spring. 
I shall be glad if others will publish any facts they may know bearing on this 
subject. — J. Hellins, 12th October, 1867. 
Notes on Cirrmdia xerampeUna. — I have to thank Dr. Hoarder and Mr. A. 
Edmunds for their kindness in sending mo eggs of this species, and my own 
awkwardness in somehow faiUng to rear the caterpillars. However, the larva has 
been safely figured, and the account of my failure with it in an early stage will be 
followed by that of Mr, Buckler's success at a later date. 
Dr. Hoarder sent me eggs in the autumn of last year, which I suppose were 
not kept cold enough, for the larvse came forth about December 10th ; of course 
the ash (Fraxinus excelsior) had neither flower nor leaf then, so T cut some twigs, 
and picked open some buds for them, and for a time hoped they would feed con- 
tentedly, but they soon died off, one or two surviving the others for a short time, 
and sustaining themselves by eating the inner bark of the twigs. 
Mr. Edmunds sent me eggs on 21st last February, having prevented the 
unnaturally early exclusion of the larvae by keeping them in a room with a cold 
aspect. I continued to treat them in the same way, and the larvse did not appear 
till the second and third week in April, when they came out at intervals of a day 
or two. 
Noiv, of course, I thought I was all right, and having procured some bunches 
of the budding ash-blossoms, expected to have no further trouble. But, whatever 
was the cause (perhaps it might have been the juicy dampness of the buds shut up 
in the bottle), xerampeUna would not thrive, and again I lost all the brood. 
Meanwhile other larvse throve on the same buds, and the sight of their frass 
appearing, whilst they themselves were hidden in their food, kept me some time in 
ignorance of the full extent of my loss. At last the deceivers appeared — three or 
four Cheimatohia hrumata, two Cosmia trapezina, and one Xylina petrificata. 
Brumata, probably, had been hatched some little time, but the others must have 
been introduced in the egg state, and I scarcely think that thei/ destroyed the 
xerampeUna, because the latter must have been all dead before the former had 
grown big enough to be cannibals, for I fancy they are contented with vegetable 
diet until nearly half-grown. 
The egg of xerampeUna is of the usual round convex-topped button shape, 
ribbed with sixteen ribs, long and short alternately; eight of them meeting 
together at the top, whilst the other eight stop short, and do not touch the angles 
formed by the meeting of the longer ribs on either side of them ; the sm-face 
between the ribs is reticulated transversely. 
