Perhaps this notice may elicit, either from our English collectors of this group of insects, or from some Foreign Entomologist, some corroboration of this, so far as I am aware, single instance of one of this section of the Aculeata being carnivorous.

While on the subject of abnormal (?) peculiarities of bees, I may mention that I have made special observations on Anthophora acervorum. A pair, or at most, so far as my observations go, two pairs, had taken up their abode in a cob-wall at the end of my garden. I began to notice them in 1863, and have noted the time of their appearance in our meteorological register each year since that time to the present, with the exception of one year (1878), when I did not see them at all for the whole season. The next year, however, a pair took up their abode in the same place, and have continued since. With the one break mentioned above, the male has always put in an appearance about a week before the female; thus, for 19 years, this law has held good, but this year it was broken, for the female preceded the male by a week-she appeared on March 9th, and the male came out on the 15th.-EDWARD PARFITT, Exeter: November 6th, 1882.

Hoplisus bicinctus, Rossi, near Plymouth.-On the 1st August last, between Bickleigh Bridge and the Railway Station, I had the pleasure of taking two females of this rare Hymenopterous iasect. It differs, however, from Mr. Smith's description, in having the fuscous portion of the flagellum extended on to the last apical joint; in having on the scutellum a yellow line, instead of two spots; on the first segment of the abdomen two egg-shaped spots broadly united and covering the upper-surface and nearly the whole of the sides (in fact, it would be better described as a band), instead of two triangular spots; the broad yellow band on the second segment is continued across the venter, the narrow band on the third is not continued across the venter, but is represented by a dot on each side and two in the centre, in one specimen, in the other the central dots are wanting. Mr. E. Saunders describes this insect with two spots on the first segment, and length 11 mm., these are respectively 9 and 9 mm.-G. C. BIGNELL, Stonehouse, Plymouth : 14th November, 1882.

Error as to fig-insect from Ficus religiosa.—As accuracy is always desirable, even in minor matters, I beg to point out that in the Report of the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of September 6th, which appeared in the last part of the Ent. Mo. Mag. (p. 144), the fig-insect from Calcutta, referred to as described by me on that occasion, was obtained from the Ficus indica, and not from the F. religiosa, as stated in that report. Both sexes were forwarded to me, with the figs, by Mr. J. Wood Mason, to whom I have dedicated the species under the name of Eupristina Masoni. The female is very remarkable, having a duplex serrate appendage attached to the base of each of the mandibles and exarticulate therewith, the one series furnished with nine teeth, and the other with seven, side by side with each other and connected together at their base. The wings are also entirely different from any allied species. The Australian species from Ficus macrophylla has a very long serrate process attached in like manner, consisting of thirty teeth in a single series, closely resembling a carpenter's hand-saw, the large hooked mandible representing

the handle. I have named this curious species Pleistodontes imperialis. The same species has since been obtained from an evergreen Ficus, said to be the F. austra'is. -SIDNEY S. SAUNDERS, Gatestone, Upper Norwood: November 14th, 1882.

Notes on the Lepidoptera of Heligoland.-The little British island of Heligoland, in the North Sea, has of late acquired more notoriety from scientific than from political considerations. It has proved to be a sort of half-way house at which the migrations, &c., of European birds can be studied with advantage, and from this cause it has been visited by many of the most noted European Ornithologists; moreover, it has a resident Naturalist in the person of Herr Gätke, who has done much, by his industrious observations, to draw attention to the peculiar ornithological conditions of the islet. Its fame in this induced Baron de Selys-Longchamps to visit it in September, 1880, and being also an Entomologist, he naturally sought and obtained such entomological information as was available. The ornithological results of his visit have been published in the Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France, vol. vii (1882). To this paper he appends his entomological notes (Lepidoptera), and as these are likely to be overlooked by Entomologists, in consequence of the medium of publication, we think it well to call attention to them here. Butterflies (as well as birds) are often migratory, and who knows but that some " undoubtedly British " examples—say of Vanessa Antiopa—may have called in at Heligoland en passant ! The extent of our small possession may be realized by Baron de Selys' own words. He says: "J'ai fait le tour complet de l'île en une heure environ;" and he adds, "Je ne vis que fort peu d'insectes (il est vrai que la saison était trop avancée), seulement quelques Vanessa urticæ, Pieris rapæ, et les Libellula vulgata et scotica. Je me demande où vivent les larves aquatiques des Odonates, car il n'y a ni marécages, ni ruisseaux, et l'on n'a d'autre eau dans l'île que celle des citernes et d'un puits." But Herr Gätke possesses a collection of the Lepidoptera of the island, and in it Baron de Selys noticed the following:

*Papilio Machaon and Podalirius; Aporia cratægi; Pieris *rapæ, *napi, and *brassica; Leucophasia sinapis; Colias Palano, Hyale, and Edusa; *Gonopteryx rhamni; Polyommatus phlœas and Hippothoë; Lycæna Acis, Arion, and Alexis ; Apatura Iris; Limenitis Sibylla; Vanessa polychloros, *urticæ, *Io, Antiopa *c-album, *Atalanta, and *cardui; Argynnis Dia, Lathonia, Aglaia, and Paphia; Melitaa Didyma; *Satyrus Semele; Melanargia Galatea; Pararge Mæra, Megara, and Egeria; Canonympha Pamphilus, Davus, and Iphis?; Epinephile Janira, Tithonus, and hyperanthus; Hesperia comma.

Those species to which an asterisk is attached are found nearly every year; the others are only found occasionally ("très accidentellement ").

The following Sphingida were also noticed, viz.: Sphinx ligustri, convolvuli, and pinastri; Deilephila galii, euphorbiæ, Elpenor, porcellus, and celerio; Smerinthus ocellatus, populi, and tiliæ; Macroglossa stellatarum; Zygæna Minos.

Amongst the Bombyces was observed the variety of Spilosoma lubricipeda known in British Collections as radiata, which appears to have become nearly extinct in England.

On two occasions Herr Gätke has taken Margarodes unionalis in his garden, reminding one of its occasional sporadic occurrence in England.

Many other Lepidoptera must occur (some, indeed, have been recorded in other publications), but the list of Butterflies and Sphingidæ is probably tolerably complete. And it is suggestive, inasmuch as many of the species must, of necessity, be migrants. Zygana Minos in Heligoland appears almost incredible, and we might say the same as regards Colias Palano.—EDITORS.

New food-plant for Bombyx quercus.—In the middle of May, observing a small Portugal laurel to be much eaten I looked for the cause, and found a half-grown larva of Bombyx quercus on one of its branches. I conveyed it to the house and supplied it with leaves of the same plant. I, after that, introduced it into its feeding cage daily, together with sprigs of whitethorn; but on every occasion have found the laurel eaten in preference to the other plant. Latterly I supplied it with nothing else and it continued healthy and grew well until the 22nd of June, when it became full-fed, spun a cocoon, and changed to the chrysalis state. Thus it remained until the 17th of August, when a fine male imago emerged.—OWEN S. WILSON, Carmarthen: November, 1882.

Notes on the season in West Norfolk.—Like many others, I, too, complain of the scarcity of Lepidoptera, and especially of Macro-Lepidoptera, this season. Several species failed to put in an appearance at all, and others were not observed in their usual numbers. From the very first this scarcity of Lepidoptera began to manifest itself. Even the generally common Hibernia rupicapraria was quite a rarity, and sallow-bloom seemed almost to have lost its attractive powers, so few were the insects observed at it. As the summer advanced, more species were necessarily met with, but many of them in very limited numbers; the Eupithecia being especially scarce, and generally late in their appearance. Eup. pygmæata I did not see at all, and amongst the few Macros which have been as abundant as usual I note Coremia quadrifasciaria, which species seemed to be well distributed and moderately common on tree-trunks in and near woods; Melanippe unangulata and Macaria liturata have been commoner than I have ever before observed them; Larentia didymata was everywhere a pest, and, in some places, L. pectinitaria was nearly as plentiful. Sugar, although repeatedly tried, proved of little use; even common Noctuæ, such as Noctua triangulum and N. brunnea, were only represented during the season by single specimens, notwithstanding the abundance of larvæ of these species in the spring. A day on the coast in July resulted in my boxing three specimens only of Anerastia Farrella, but, perhaps, I ought not to complain much of this, as the weather was anything but favourable for coast work. Stathmopoda pedella turned up in plenty among some old alders, but it was excessively local, being confined to a few trees only. Of Tortrix Lafauryana I again secured a fine series, with some curious varieties. Two specimens have the costal blotches united, so as to form one long blotch on the costa. I also succeeded in breeding the species from larvæ feeding between united leaves and shoots of Myrica gale (bog myrtle). Two specimens of Retinia turionana were dislodged from Scotch fir, and eventually boxed, also a solitary specimen of Phlæodes Demarniana flying out of a birch tree met with a similar fate. This specimen occurred some three or four miles from where the last specimen was taken, so that I hope yet to find a spot in which it can be taken more

plentifully. A fine series each of Phoxopteryx uncana, P. siculana, P. biarcuana, P. inornatana, and Phlæodes immundana were obtained, with a few specimens of P. diminutana and P. Mitterpacheriana, but only a single specimen of Catoptria juliana. Crambus hamellus and C. latistrius turned up in plenty, and Ephestia passulella swarmed on the premises of the King's Lynn Dock Company. Larvæ of Geometra papilionaria were found on the young shoots of birch in the spring, and a larva, also from birch, produced a fine specimen of Phycis betulella.

In conclusion, although I was fortunate enough to take a few good species in considerable numbers this season, the fact still remains that many species which, as a rule, are of annual occurrence here, have been either absent or comparatively scarce. —EDWARD A. ATMORE, 8, Union Street, King's Lynn: October, 1882.

Notes on the larva of Lemmatophila phryganella.-While searching for Tortrix larvæ in Canaston Wood last July, I found larvæ of Lemmatophila phryganella rather commonly, and as the notices of this species in our books are rather brief, I think that details may be interesting.

It seems to prefer woods, though often found in the open country, and I found that the larvae were principally confined to oak bushes situated under oak trees in the woods, so that they had plenty of shade.

The larva, when full grown, is about the size of that of Peronea hastiana, and not unlike it, moderately active, nearly cylindrical, but with the second segment smaller than the head. Colour semi-transparent yellowish-white, with a delicate powdery-looking efflorescence. This shows more especially at each division of the segments where there is a fold of the skin. Head chestnut or dark brown, with the margin and jaws darker, dorsal plate freckled with brown, anal plate hardly visible, spots invisible, but hairs rather long and delicate. Anterior-legs whitish, the third pair having each a very singular, shining, semi-transparent tubercle on the outer side, which gives the larva the appearance of having two long bladdery legs. Professor Zeller (Isis, 1846) says that this peculiarity is confined to male larvæ. It may be so, but I certainly did not notice its absence in any of my larvæ.

Feeding between leaves of oak united flatly together, eating the inner surface of each leaf in patches, deserting its habitation without apparent cause, and joining together other leaves, and partially gnawing them in the same manner, causing the disfigured leaves to be very conspicuous. When full-fed, it lines a portion of the space between two leaves with shining whitish silk, making a tolerably commodious habitation or cocoon, and there becomes a chestnut-brown pupa, at about the end of July.

My first (a male) appeared on September 30th, the rest (both sexes) from time to time through October. Before November, all had emerged; as the latter is the month in which this species principally flies, I presume that they were slightly forced, not, of course, by heat-since the species waits for cool weather—but by the indoor protection from wet and wind.

I see that Professor Zeller also gives October as the time of emergence. He also describes the ♂ larvæ as having the head and dorsal plate black, the brown. This distinction must have been, I presume, in young larvæ. I did not observe it. -CHAS. G. BARRETT, Pembroke: 16th November, 1882.

NOTES ON NEW BRITISH COLEOPTERA SINCE 1871; WITH NOTICES OF DOUBTFUL SPECIES, AND OF OTHERS THAT REQUIRE TO BE OMITTED FROM THE BRITISH LIST.

BY THE REV. w. w. FOWLER, M.A., F.L.S.
(continued from p. 126.)

[Owing to a mistake, the words "flown across the channel were applied, on p. 122, to C. auratus, instead of to Calosoma sycophanta, a few lines down; I am sorry that so obvious an inversion escaped notice.]

HYDROPHILIDE.

PHILHYDRUS SUTURALIS, Sharp.

This species is allied to P. marginellus, Thoms., but is larger, with yellow palpi; the clypeus has a yellow spot on each side in front of the eye, and the elytra are dull testaceous, with the suture black. It appears to be very common both in England and Scotland, and collectors will probably find that most of their P. marginellus belong to this species, if they examine them; in P. marginellus, Thoms., the elytra are of a browner colour, the thorax is darker, the head black and unspotted, and the last joint of the palpi black (Ent. Mo. Mag., ix, 153; Ent. Ann., 1873, 22). There is very great confusion with regard to the synonymy of P. marginellus.

Helochares punctatus, Sharp.

This species can hardly be separated from H. lividus, Forst.

Anacana variabilis, Sharp.

This appears to be considered on the continent a variety of A. limbata; it is, however, a very good species, and may be distinguished at once by its long oval shape, which is entirely different from that of A. limbata. I have taken it in numbers in the New Forest, unaccompanied by the latter species.

HELOPHORUS TUBERCULATUS, Gyll.

This insect may be easily distinguished by its deep black colour, and by the polished tubercular elevations on the second, fourth, and sixth interstices of its uneven elytra Taken in the Manchester district by Mr. Chappell, and in Yorkshire by Mr. T. Wilkinson (Ent. Mo. Mag., xi, 135, 235).

Allied to H. aquaticus, but smaller, with the sides of the thorax less rounded, and its surface less closely granulose; there are also other differences, but it would seem very difficult to separate the species from H. aquaticus, of which it appears to be a small variety. It appears to be common, and to occur with this latter species. I have taken it at Repton, and near Lincoln (Ent. Mo. Mag., xi, 39).

HELOPHORUS BREVICOLLIS, Thoms.

Said to be allied to H. granularis, but distinguished by the sulci of the thorax, and by the elytra being narrower and more pointed at the apex, and having the sides more parallel; the punctures in the striæ on the elytra are finer and closer, and the interstices between the striæ are much narrower and more elevated. Taken at Killarney by Rev. T. Blackburn (Ent. Mo. Mag., xi, 39). I have a Scotch specimen named as H. brevicollis for me by M. Brisout, which appears to be very close to aneipennis.