Nemeophila plantaginis, common. Arctia caia, common. Spilosoma menthastri, common, but local. Hepialus humuli, common; H. velleda, common; H. lupulinus, common, but local; H. hectus, occasionally. Dasychira fascelina, not uncommon in marshy places. Orgyia antiqua, larvæ, common on sallows. Bombyx rubi, B. calluna, common on the heath. Saturnia pavonia, also common on heath. Dicranura furcula, larvæ, occasionally; D. vinula, larvæ, common. Lophopteryx camelina, larvæ, occasionally. Notodonta dictaa, sometimes very common; N. dromedarius, larvæ, occasionally. N. ziczac, larvæ, common. Thyatira batis, occasionally common at sugar. Bryophila perla, occasionally at light. Demas coryli, larvæ, occasionally. Acronycta psi, common; A. rumicis, occasionally; A. menyanthidis, A. myricæ, not uncommon at sugar. Leucania conigera, common along the coast; L. lithargyria, occasionally common: L. impura, L. pallens, common. Tapinostola fulva, not common. Hydracia nictitans, common; H. micacea, also common, mostly at light. Xylophasia rurea, very common; X. lithoxylea, common, but local; X. monoglypha (polyodon), very common. Charaas graminis, common on the ragwort. Cerigo matura, not common. Luperina testacea, common at sugar, and also at light. Mamestra albicolon, not uncommon along the coast; M. furva, not very common; M. brassica, common. Apamea basilinea, common; A. gemina, also common; A. unanimis, rare; A. didyma, very common. Miana strigilis, not common; M. fasciuncula, very common; M. literosa, not so common as the former. Celana haworthii, sometimes common. Stilbia anomala, rare; I have not taken it myself. Caradrina quadripunctata, common all the year round. Rusina tenebrosa, males common, but females rare to find. Agrotis vestigialis, common on the ragwort along the coast; A. suffusa, sometimes common in spring and autumn; A. segetum, very common, mostly along the coast; A. exclamationis, also very common: A. cursoria, A. nigricans, A. tritici, very common along the coast on the ragwort, also at sugar; A. agathina, rare; A. strigula (porphyrea), flying very commonly when beginning to get dusk; A. simulans, occasionally, but not common. Noctua glareosa, N. augur, N. plecta, N. c-nigrum, always common; N. triangulum, sometimes common; N. brunnea, N. festiva, v. conflua, N. dahlii, N. rubi, N. umbrosa, N. baia, N. neglecta, sometimes very common where there is heath; N. sobrina, occasionally, but not common; N. xanthographa, very common everywhere. Triphana ianthina, occasionally; T. fimbria, rare; T. comes (orbona), very common; I was informed of one of the rare T. orbona (subsequa), taken near here, but when I saw the specimen I found it was only an uncommon form of T. comes; T. pronuba, common; I have seen this species on the wing froin June to October. Amphipyra tragopogonis, not common. Mania typica, common. Panolis piniperda, not common. Pachnobia rubricosa, common. Taniocampa gothica, common. Orthosia suspecta, common, but local; O. macilenta, also common and local. Anchocelis rufina, very common; A. litura, sometimes common. Cerastis vaccinii, common in spring and autumn. Scopelosoma satellitia, common and local. Xanthia fulvago (cerago), sometimes common ; X. Alavago (silago), not so common; X. circellaris, common. Calymnia trapezina, not common. I have one of the Dianthacia that was named for me as D. compta, but has been doubted; D. cucubali has been taken here, but not common. Polia chi, common, but local. Dasypolia templi, occasionally. Aporophyla lutulenta, not common, mostly along the coast; A. nigra, sometimes

common. Miselia oxyacantha, occasionally. Agriopis aprilina, not common. Euplexia lucipara, sometimes common. Phlogophora meticulosa, occasionally, but not common. Aplecta prasina, A. occulta, A. tincta, has been taken here, but not common. Hadena adusta, very common; H. glauca, not common; H. dentina, common, mostly on the coast; H. oleracea, common everywhere; H. pisi, fairly common, the larva is found commoner than the insect; H. thalassina, not common; H. rectilinea, sometimes common, but has been scarce this year. Calocampa vetusta, C. exoleta, common in spring and autumn. C. solidaginis, common at rest on trunks of fir trees, and also comes freely to sugar. Cucullia umbratica, not common. Gonoptera libatrix, very local, and not common. Habrostola tripartita, common. Plusia chrysitis, common amongst nettles; P. bractea, rare; P. festuca, rare; P. pulchrina, common; P. gamma, common in spring and autumn; P. interrogationis, sometimes common. Anarta myrtilli, flies commonly when the sun shines. Chariclea umbra, rare. Phytometra viridaria, occasionally. I have been informed of one Catocala fraxini, taken at sugar in Aberdeen about the end of September this year. Rumia luteolata, common everywhere. Metrocampa margaritaria, common and local. Ellopia prosapiaria, also common and local. Selenia bilunaria, common. Odontopera bidentata, common. Crocallis elinguaria, common. Boarmia gemmaria, very common. Gnophos obscuraria, local and not common. Geometra papilionaria, common, but local; I have not taken this species myself. Acidalia aversata, common, but local. Cabera pusaria, also common, but local. Macaria liturata, occasionally. Scodiona belgiaria, scarce. Fidonia carbonaria, rare. Ematurga atomaria, common. Bupalus piniaria, very common. Abraxas grossulariata, common in gardens. Cheimatobia brumata, C. boreata, common. Oporabia dilutata, common; O. autumnaria, not common. Larentia didymata, L. multistrigaria, L. cæsiata, L. viridaria, always common. Emmelesia albulata, common along the coast; E. minosata, not common. Eupithecia oblongata, common; E. satyrata v. callunaria, common, but local; E. indigata, also local; E. nanata, E. vulgata, E. lariciata, common; E. pumilata, common, but local. Thera variata, common; T. firmata, not common. Hypsipetes ruberata, rare; H. trifasciata, fairly common, but local; H. sordidata, common everywhere. Melanthia bicolorata, common, but local; M. ocellata, common: Melanippe sociata, common; M. montanata, M. fluctuata, also very common. Anticlea nigrofusciaria, rare. Coremia munitata, common; C. designata, scarce. Camptogramma bilineata, common everywhere. Cidaria miata, occasionally; C. truncata, C. immanata, C. suffumata, C. silaceata, C. prunata, C. testata, C. populata, C. fulvata, C. dotata, always common. Eubolia limitata, common; E. plumbaria, common, but local. Anaitis plagiata, common. Chesias spartiata, common; C. rufata, not common. Tanayra atrata, common along the coast. I have not yet done much in collecting Micro-Lepidoptera here, but I intend to work these next year, and hope to be able to give a good report of the species that occur here.-L. G. ESSON; 46, North Charlotte Street, Aberdeen, N. B.

HYPSIPETES SORDIDATA (= ELUTATA).—It would be interesting if entomologists, working districts where both the sallow and bilberry forms of this species occur, would make notes of the times of appearance of each form. In North Devon, I noticed that the smaller specimens, whose larvæ feed on bilberry, had passed their zenith before the larger, sallow-feeding speci

mens were out in any number. Observations bearing on this question would be valuable.-RICHARD SOUTH.

HESPERIA LINEOLA.-I find that I have a very much worn specimen of this butterfly, which was captured within a few miles of Sudbury, Suffolk, in July, 1886.-V. GERRARD; 47, Foulden Road, Stoke Newington, N., April 22, 1890.

room.

Early appearance of DasychIRA PUDIBUNDA.—On Jan. 28th I found a male Dasychira pudibunda, flying against the window inside the billiardI suppose the larva must have got inside the house and pupated there, and been "forced" by the warmth of the room, unless the unusually mild weather had induced it to emerge from the chrysalis out of doors, and the moth had got into the house afterwards, which I should hardly think likely.-W. M. CHRISTY; Watergate, Emsworth, Hants.

BRITISH DIFTERA.-Mr. Brunetti, in his notes on Diptera (Entom. 122), has in several cases given incorrect localities. The following should be Wyre Forest, not Birmingham:-Scenopinus fenestralis, Dolichopus brevipennis, Pyrophana rosarum, Xylota abiens, Microdon devius, Lasiops semicinerea. I have also taken Sapromyza platycephala.-R. C. BRADLEY; 252, Mosely Road, Birmingham.

LOCALITY LABELS FOR SPECIMENS.-Although many entomologists in this country make a practice of affixing labels, bearing locality and date of capture, to the insects in their collection, it is rather the exception than the rule that specimens one receives from, or sends to, correspondents have any such data attached. The reason for this is obvious. To write the necessary number of tiny labels for our own cabinet specimens entails the expenditure of considerable time and patience; so if we were to supply the pins of our duplicates also with "tickets," the time we have to devote to entomological work would be seriously encroached upon. Of course information concerning localities and dates are generally obtainable, and are to be had from our correspondents for the asking; but this often means additional letter writing and postage, even if one ignores the possible element of doubt which may enter into the matter. It is, perhaps, not too much to say that the custom of " localising" specimens would be more general than it is if the business could be done with greater facility and expedition. Writing these labels is tedious work, but to have them printed in small quantities would be expensive. If, however, they could be obtained in England, as on the continent, in sheets, it is probable

"That some would label then who never did before, And those who had begun would label many more." If these remarks should come under the notice of anyone connected with printing, perhaps he might conceive the idea of publishing a series of labels as an experiment. If so, I would suggest that unless he is prepared to do the thing in a large way, it would hardly be worth doing at all. The first step would be, of course, to ascertain as far as possible the localities most likely to be required. This could be done by inviting entomologists to furnish lists of places that would be useful to them, and which they would use if printed. When a sufficient number of localities were received, they could be arranged in series representing the following divisions of Great Britain Scotland: 1. Highlands; 2. Lowlands; 3. Isles. England and

:

Wales: 1. North; 2. South; 3. East; 4. West; 5. North-east; 6. Northwest; 7. Midlands, N.; 8. Midlands, S.; 9. South-east; 10. South-west. Ireland: there are, unfortunately, so few collectors in Ireland, that one series for this country would probably suffice, even, perhaps, if the Isle of Man were included therewith. The dates could not be printed on labels in series for general use, but these could be quickly and easily written, either on the back or face of the label, thus:-4.90 April, 1890.-R. S.

=

ERRATA.-P. 132, line 6 from top, for "my" read "any." P. 160, line 11, for "Fallon " read " Fallou "; line 13, "HOMOPTERA.-Fam. FULGORIDE should be placed so as immediately to precede "Subfam. EURYBRACHYDINÆ.”

SOCIETIES.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-April 2nd, 1890.—Mr. Frederick DuCane Godman, M.A., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair. Mr. G. Bryant, of 6, Oakley Crescent, Chelsea, S.W.; Mr. A. E. Hall, of Norbury, Pitts Moor, Sheffield; Mr. J. J. F. X. King, of 207, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow; Mr. H. C. Oakshott, of De Beauvoir House, Falmouth; Mr. A. E. Stearns, of the Lodge, Upper Halliford, Walton-on-Thames; and Mr. G. Vigers, of Hersham, Surrey, were elected Fellows; and Mr. A. B. Farn was admitted into the Society. Mr. Godman announced the death of Mr. Joseph S. Baly, of Warwick, the well-known coleopterist, who had been a member of the Society for the last forty years. Dr. Sharp exhibited and made remarks on a female specimen of a coleopterous insect-Temnochila quadricollis, Reitt.—which was the subject of a very unusual malformation of the nature termed "ectromélie " by Lacordaire. Mr. R. W. Lloyd exhibited three specimens of Elater pomona, taken at Brockenhurst, in the New Forest, about the middle of March last. Colonel Swinhoe exhibited, and read notes on, a number of butterflies of the genus Euthalia. He pointed out that the specimens described as a species by the name of Euthalia sedeva were only the females of E. balarama. Mr. T. R. Billups exhibited male and female specimens of Cecidomyia salicis-siliqua, Walsh, which had just emerged from galls received from Mr. Cockerell, who had collected them on a species of sallow in Colorado. He also exhibited three species of Ichneumonidæ new to Britain, viz., Ichneumon haglundi, Holmgr., bred by Messrs. Adkin and Barker from Arctia fuliginosa; Phygadeuon rufo-niger, Bridg., taken in Ashdown Forest in November, 1885; and Phygadeuon sodalis, Tasch., taken at Dulwich in June, 1889. Mr. C. G. Barrett exhibited specimens of Bryotropha obscurella, Hein, and Doryphora elongella, Hein, two species of Lepidoptera new to Britain. Dr. Thallwitz, of Dresden, contributed" Notes on some species of the genus Hilipus." These notes had reference to a paper on the genus Hilipus, by Mr. F. P. Pascoe, published in the Transactions' of the Society for 1889. Mr. E. Meyrick read a paper entitled "The Classification of the Pyralidina of the European Fauna." Mr. Kirby, Mr. M'Lachlan, Mr. Stainton, Capt. Elwes, and Mr. Barrett took part in the discussion which ensued. Prof. Westwood communicated a paper

6

entitled "Notes on certain species of Cetoniidae." Mynheer P. C. T. Snellen, of Rotterdam, contributed a paper entitled "A Catalogue of the Pyralidina of Sikkim collected by H. J. Elwes and the late Otto Möller," and Capt. Elwes read certain notes on the foregoing paper as an Appendix. Mr. W. L. Distant, Colonel Swinhoe, Mr. M'Lachlan, and Mr. Jacoby took part in the discussion which ensued.-H. Goss, Hon. Sec.

THE SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. -March 27th, 1890.-J. T. Carrington, F.L.S., President, in the chair. Mr. C. G. Barrett exhibited a series of Dianthacia carpophaga, Bork., showing fully its connection with its variety D. capsophila Dup., a specimen of D. luteago, Hb., v. barrettii, Dbl., all reared by Mr. Blandford, from larvæ found in South Wales; specimens of the original Catoptria parvulana, Wilk., taken by Messrs. Bond and M'Lachlan, with recent specimens reared and taken by Messrs. Fletcher, Bankes, and Vine, with intermediate forms, which Mr. Barrett stated proved its identity with C. scopoliana, Haw.; also a specimen of Botys mutualis (a native of Asia and Africa), taken by Mr. Gregson some years ago, in Lancashire, doubtless accidentally introduced. Mr. Adkin, examples of Hibernia rupicapraria, Hb. Mr. Joy, an immature specimen of Mantis religiosa, from the Suez Canal. Mr. T. R. Billups, several species of Ophionides, bred by members of the Society; amongst others Paniscus testaceus, Gr., and P. cephalotes, Holmg. and Ophion luteum, L., bred by Mr. Barker from the larvæ of Dianthacia capsincola, Hb., the latter species also being reared by Mr. Wellman from Hadena pisi, L., and by Mr. South from Toxocampa cracca, Fr. Mr. Billups called particular attention to the fact that the cocoons of Ophion luteum differed considerably according to the host from which bred. He also called attention to the extreme variability in size of Paniscus cephalotes, two females taken by himself at Hayling Island in 1866 being not above one-third larger than the female bred by Mr. Barker. In the same box were shown Banchus moniliatus, Holmg., bred from the larvæ of Panolis piniperda; also both sexes of Exetastes osculatorius, Fab., from the larvæ of Retinia pinicolana, Dbl., by Messrs. South and Adkin. Among Mr. Billups's other exhibits were a specimen of Phygadeuon sodalis, Tasch., taken in his own garden, June 1st, 1889, and a female of Hemiteles macrurus, Tasch., taken at the same place, August, 1889, both species being new to Britain; Phygadeuon (Microcryptus) rufoniger, a species new to science, one of several females taken by Mr. Billups in Ashdown Forest, November, 1885, was stated to have been described by Mr. Bridgman in the Transactions' of the Entomological Society for 1889. Mr. Perks showed pond-life from Barnes Common, and Mr. Tugwell and Mr. Step exhibited botanical specimens and contributed remarks on their respective exhibits.

April 10th.-The President in the chair. Lieut. E. W. Brown and Mr. R. McAllan were elected members. Mr. Tugwell exhibited a series of Tephrosia crepuscularia, W. V., and T. biundularia, Bork., with water-colour drawings of both larvæ from life, and remarked that after breeding both insects, he was perfectly convinced as to their being distinct species, although evidently closely allied. T. crepuscularia appeared from the last week in March to the middle of April, and