Note on Oodemas ænescens, Boh.-I observe that, according to Dr. Karsch, Oodemas anescens, Boh. (Cossonida) occurred to Dr. Finsch at Olinda. Is it possible that "Olinda" is here a misprint for "Honolulu," whence Boheman states that he procured the species? I have taken several species of Oodemas at Olinda (vide Annales de la Société Ent. de Belg., 6th July, 1878, and Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xvii, p. 199), but not anescens. If it be really a fact that Dr. Finsch took on Maui the veritable species obtained by Boheman near Honolulu, the certainty that such was the case would possess the deepest interest for me, as my experience goes to show that no species of the genus is common to Oahu and the southern islands of the group.-T. BLACKBURN, Cathedral Close, Honolulu : 3rd June, 1882.

Dipterous larvæ in the human subject.-In compliance with the request of your correspondent, Mr. William E. A. Axon, in the July number of the Magazine, p. 45, I beg to refer him to the following sources of information on the subject in which he is interested: the Medical Press and Circular for March 15th, 1882, p. 238; the number of the same for April 5th, 1882, p. 304; ditto, April 12th, pp. 314 and 325; ditto, April 26th, p. 368.-J. A. OSBORNE, M.D., Milford, Letterkenny: 1st July, 1882.

A day's larva-collecting in the New Forest.—Whilst on a visit to Lyndhurst at the end of last month, I had the opportunity, in company with my friend Mr. Freeman, of Plymouth, of having a day's larva-collecting in the vicinity. It was evident, from the denuded state of the trees, that larvæ were abundant, and such proved to be the case.

Oak produced a number of miscellaneous larvæ, the most noteworthy being Liparis monacha, Nyssia hispidaria, and Cymatophora ridens, all commonly; the lichen-covered branches, a few Lithosia quadra; beech, the young larvæ of Demas coryli; and the stunted sloe bushes, Thecla betula and Aleucis pictaria.

The most interesting larva, however, which we beat out was dislodged from a large oak in the open forest. The larva resembled, in a marvellous degree, a piece of detached lichen, and we were both at first glance much puzzled as to the species. On close examination we were of opinion that it was the larva of Catocala promissa, and Mr. Buckler, to whom we sent it, recognised it as one of the varieties of that species figured by Hübner.

In the afternoon we entered one of the enclosures for Limenitis Sibylla and Argynnis Paphia. After a diligent search we found two full-grown larvæ of the former, both resting on the upper-surface of leaves of honeysuckle. The larvae of Argynnis Paphia were by no means scarce, crawling over the dead leaves in open places, in search, no doubt, of their food plant; and, to judge from the way in which the violets were eaten, the larvæ must, at an earlier date, have been indeed abundant. Mr. Freeman found a pupa of this species suspended from a piece of honeysuckle whilst searching for the larvae of L. Sibylla. I may remark that perfect insects were extremely scarce.-A. H. JONES, Shrublands, Eltham : 19th June, 1882.

Carposina, H-S., referable to the Tortricina.-Whilst recently investigating a peculiar group of the Conchylida, which is represented by several genera in Australia

and New Zealand, I happened to discover that the European genus Carposina, H-S., usually placed amongst the Gelechida, is truly referable to this same group. That it does not belong to the Gelechida is sufficiently proved by the separation of veins 7 and 8 of the fore-wings, which in the Gelechida and Ecophoridæ are invariably stalked; the long straight porrected palpi and peculiar venation of the hindwings also remove it from those families.

The group of the Conchylide in question is represented in Australia and New Zealand by the genera Paramorpha, Heterocrossa, Bondia, Oistophora, and Coscinoptycha. All these agree in the following characters, viz. :—the fore-wings have 12 separate veins; the hind-wings have only 6 veins, of which 3 and 4 risé from a point or short stalk, 5 from upper angle of cell, 6 free; the fore-wings are unusually elongate and narrow, always with tufts of raised scales; the hind-wings are unusually pointed, and the cilia often long. Carposina exactly accords with these characters, except that veins 3 and 4 of the hind-wings appear to be separate, which is, indeed, the only point of generic separation from the genera mentioned. The long porrected palpi (differing somewhat in the sexes, as also in others of the genera) and the rather peculiar costal strigulæ are additional points of resemblance, which make the relationship unmistakeable. In superficial colouring and marking the species very closely resemble Paramorpha and Heterocrossa.

The species of this group are so curious, and at first sight so little suggestive of the usually broad-winged Tortricina, that it may be necessary to explain that there is another Australian group, represented by the genera Heliocosma and Hyperxena, which affords a clear transition to the ordinary type of the Conchylidæ.

The relationship of Carposina to the Australian fauna is so interesting that I thought it worth while to point out the mistake made in its location.—E. MEYRICK, Christchurch, New Zealand: April 20th, 1882.

On some Hymenoptera of the sandy districts of Hungary.—In the description of the insect-fauna of the spring I mentioned that the air was but little animated, but now (summer) the case is altered. Buzzings, chirpings, creakings-the mingled hum of the swarms of insects all around— -are fit to put an entomologist, especially a Hymenopterist, into a state of ecstasy. He should have a hundred hands not to miss anything of value. The heat is indeed excessive, on the colder spots 40° Réaum., or more; the sand burns the hand laid on it to such a degree that it is involuntarily withdrawn; there is no shade, not the smallest cloud on the deep blue sky, and yet the condition is not intolerable. On the contrary, one breathes free and easy, for although the air is very hot it is very dry; the pores of the skin are fully active, and by the rapid evaporation of perspiration the skin is always cool; and I can truly say that to me the excursion to these steppes did not differ from a stay at a bathing place, for I left the place, after six or eight weeks, mentally and bodily invigorated and refreshed.

Scarcely have we put a foot on the sand when we are surrounded by Bembex olivacea, F. This grand white species of Sphegida follows us everywhere in our walks. It flies round us, its circuit becoming always smaller, and finally it settles on our coat. Its tone is a monotonous plaint, just like that of Eristalis tenax. As we proceed onwards the Bembex circles round us more and more, flying about like

white snow-flakes. Soon they settle on our sleeves, shoulders, and back; and yet one cannot capture them, for they parry every motion of our net aimed at them. They are also very wary when on their favourite flowers-Euphorbia Gerardiana, Centaurea arenaria, Eryngium campestre, and Marrubium peregrinum.

They are most easily caught in the vicinity of their nests. If one comes to a place quite destitute of vegetation, where the yellowish-white ground covered with loose sand has in it a hundred or more holes side by side, there is the colony of Bember. They place themselves at the mouth of the holes, and with an invisible yet fabulously rapid motion of the feet throw the sand backwards, so that it appears as if blown by bellows, and it falls down in the form of a streak about a span wide. Their prey is always a Dipteron. One has here nothing more to do than to scatter the sand with his feet, so that the holes are covered, then the home-comers cannot easily get to their nest, and betake themselves to digging. More continue to come home, and soon a whole swarm like snow-flakes flies hither and thither. Now I seize the net, strike rapidly about ten times, swinging it backwards and forwards close to the surface of the ground. By such means the capture does not fail, and it is also announced by the plaintive tones in the net.

Other species occur, but they cannot be taken in this manner. Here Stizomorphus tridens, F., makes its nest, and among them, here and there, the deceptively similar Larra hungarica, Fried.: they can only be captured when sedentary on the ground. Both species always prey on Homoptera and have an entirely similar mode of living. Stizomorphus tridens occurs in greater number, Larra hungarica only sparely. We stir not hence being in expectation of catching a splendid Chrysid. We look with watchful eyes on the sand and are happy when we see a dark-looking fly approach with slow flight. It alighted on the hole of a Bembex and quickly glided in; it soon returned and sat for some seconds at the mouth of the hole until it was expelled by a returning Bembex; then it arose with a heavy flight about a metre high and settled two or three paces off on the sand. We cautiously approach it with the net but it flew farther away; fortunately it cared not for further flight but remained still near at hand; finally we got near enough and were able to throw the net over it. As soon as it felt our fingers it rolled itself up and feigned death. Now we were able to give a glance at it :-it is the of the splendid Chrysid Parnopes carneus, Rossi, which is parasitic on Bembex. Mostly only the is obtained; the (which has more abdominal segments) is found earlier on the flowers of Centaurea arenaria and thistles, but is always very scarce. Once, at the end of August, I found a ♂ in a Bembex nest engaged in pairing.—PROF. KARL SAJÓ, in Entomol. Nachrichten: January 1st, 1882.

Reviews.

MATABELE LAND AND THE VICTORIA FALLS: a Naturalist's Wanderings in the Interior of South Africa. From the letters and journals of the late FRANK OATES, F.R.G.S. Edited by C. G. OATES, B.A. London, 1881.

It is only of late years that books of travel have contained more than an occasional passing reference to Natural History, or at least to Entomology; but at the present day, it is not often we take up one from which some useful information

respecting insects may not be derived, while many, like the work before us, will always retain a permanent scientific value.

Frank Oates, whose last travels are recorded in the present work, when a young Entomologist was settled at Leeds, he afterwards became a student at Oxford, where he showed a great taste for out-door exercise and Natural History. After several premonitory symptoms, his health gave way to such an extent as to compel him to renounce his hopes of a successful University career; and on his partial recovery, he undertook his first journey out of Europe to America, where he spent a year, travelling chiefly in Guatemala and California. Soon after his return from America, he set out again for South Africa, with the fixed intention of reaching the Zambesi. During the early part of his journey, he was accompanied by a brother; but afterwards he travelled alone, or with such European travellers as he chanced to encounter. Unhappily he was detained in the country two years, by the stolid opposition of the natives, before he was permited to visit the Falls, of which, however, he gives no account, though he took some striking sketches. He saw the falls to great advantage; but having been obliged to visit them during an unhealthy part of the year, he was attacked by fever shortly afterwards, and died at a few days' journey on his homeward route.

The account of his journey is compiled by one of his brothers from his notes and journals. He made extensive collections and sketches, and the book is illustrated by numerous coloured plates and woodcuts of scenery, and natural history; and the appendix occupies a third of the volume, including Ethnology by Dr. Rolleston, Ornithology by R. B. Sharpe, Esq., Herpetology by Dr. Günther, Entomology by Prof. Westwood, Botany by Prof. Oliver, and a list of Mahalaha Words and Phrases from F. Oates' note books. The section of Entomology, which is what chiefly concerns us here, consists of a complete list of the butterflies taken (72 species), an account of the more important moths, and general notes of the insects of other orders, with notices and figures of three new beetles, and the Tsetze Fly. This appendix includes 65 pages of text, three beautifully executed coloured plates, and one plain plate, representing details of external anatomy. The body of the work likewise contains occasional references to Entomology; thus the plate opposite p. 143 shows on one side a native oven, formed of a termite-hill, the lower portion of which is hollowed out, and filled with wood, which is set on fire, and when consumed, renders the receptacle an admirable oven, retaining its heat for a great length, of time. On p. 135 a woodcut is given of a termite-hill which was no less than 18 feet high.

THE STUDENT'S LIST OF BRITISH COLEOPTERA. Mr. Pascoe sends us the following: "In your review of my little work, "The Student's List of British Coleoptera" (p. 46 ante), you say our author is very severe on writers of 'unrecognisable ' descriptions;" but the reasons given in a note, which related exclusively to the older writers, are that they were "made without a knowledge of allied species," and that "the most important points of structure remain unnoticed." I did not complain of "writers utterly incompetent,” nor of others "fully competent" who failed to impart their knowledge to others. I did, however, complain of descriptions "pour prendre date," the writers, I believe, confiding to the protection of an absolute rule of priority whereby the most diagnostic notice serves the purpose."

September, 1882.]

73

A PROBABLE CLUE TO THE HABITS OF CHAULIODUS
INSECURE LLUS, STAINTON.

BY H. T. STAINTON, F.R S.

I do not know whether there have been any recent captures of this insect, but so far as I am aware it has never yet been bred.

The possible habits of the larva have long occupied my attention, but it is only within the last twelve months that I have attained a fresh idea as to its mode of feeding.

I may premise that the earliest known captures of Chauliodus insecurellus were erroneously recorded in the Zoologist for 1848, p. 2035, under the name of Chauliodus Illigerellus (a very different and much larger insect); the two specimens which formed the subject of that notice" were taken by Mrs. Stainton and her sister, on the downs near Stoats' Nest, on the 31st July, 1847," and I then added, "I am unable, not having caught them myself, to speak with certainty as to what plant they were beaten out of, but most probably out of the junipers, as we thrashed the junipers most assiduously for Cochylis rutilana, of which I was fortunate enough to obtain five. Mr. W. Shepherd also took a specimen of this insect off the junipers at the same place, the following week."

In preparing my first Catalogue of British Tineida and Pterophorida (published in 1849), I realized that these little specimens of a Chauliodus taken at Stoats' Nest were not the veritable Illigerellus, and I proposed for them the name of insecurella (in this Catalogue they stand in the genus Elachista under section A). I then mentioned that I had again met with it on the downs at Stoats' Nest, August 16th, 1848, but was still uncertain as to the plant that it frequented.

I have no record of the number of specimens I caught on that occasion, but two of those captures and the two specimens of July 31st, 1847, are the sole representatives of the species now existing in my collection. During a period of 34 years I have made no fresh captures of the insect.

The description which I gave in the Zoologist for 1848 (not having then fine specimens before me) is of little use, and unfortunately I am hardly better satisfied with the description in the Insecta Britannica volume, for the points of distinction on which I am now disposed to lay the most stress are not there alluded to.

Of late years several new species of the genus Chauliodus have been described by the German and French Entomologists, and in