Sir,

Attempt to naturalise the Arctia phaorrhea, or Brown-tail Moth. The account in your Magazine (Vol. I. p. 376.) of Sir John Sinclair's unsuccessful attempt to naturalise the nightingale in the northern parts of the island, calls to my recollection a somewhat similar experiment I once tried, and with like success, on a subject of entomology; a rather dangerous experiment, you will perhaps think it, considering the ravages sometimes committed by the insect in question, A'rctia phæorrhæ a (fig. 14.), and the serious alarm it once caused in the vicinity of London. (See Curtis's Observations on the Brown-tail Moth.) A'rctia phæorrhæ a is never found in this district (Warwickshire); and my first acquaintance with it, in any state, took place some years since, in the Isle of Wight, where the hedges, in autumn, were absolutely

blighted to disfiguration with the numerous webs of this insect, under shelter of which the infant caterpillars lie secure during the winter, ready to come forth and devour the young foliage in the spring. Being anxious to possess specimens of the moth, which at that time I had never even seen, I accordingly took home with me a number of the webs, which, as I have stated, formed the hybernacula of broods of the infant caterpillars. Many of these 1 bred up in confinement to the perfect state. But wishing to see whether I could not have a constant brood of them at hand, I placed a number of the webs on the hawthorn hedges, as soon as the leaves came out in the spring. The young caterpillars fed freely, not seeming to regard their transportation to a distant country. When arrived in due time at their full growth, they retired, as I conclude, for the purpose of changing to the pupa state; but, though I have no doubt that many of the perfect insects were produced, I could never observe a single specimen of the moth at large, nor were any of the webs to be found about the hedges the following autumn. The insect, in short, ceased to propagate itself in this district, and the new-planted colony came speedily to an end. Whatever disappointment I might feel on the occasion (less, certainly, than Sir John Sinclair. might reasonably feel in his case), you will, perhaps, think I ought to rejoice, at the total failure of my experiment. W. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory,

Nov. 13.1828.

The Zeuzèra æ'sculi (Wood-leopard Moth) is by no means a common insect in this country; and as the habits and localities of lepidopterous insects. are of essential service to young entomologists, I hope the following notice may be acceptable to some: -On the 10th of last May, whilst examining the trunk of a pear tree in my garden, I observed, between four and five feet from the ground, a substance resembling decayed sawdust, apparently protruding from beneath the bark, of about the size of a small pea. Upon removal, I found the bark had been perforated by some insect; and on removing some of the bark, I was enabled to trace the course taken by the insect, which may be better explained with the assistance of the annexed sketch. Upon entering the bark at a (fig. 15.), the insect appeared to have taken its direction downwards, as the cavity was not more than two eighths of an inch sunk into the wood, till reaching B, where it was rather more than three eighths, and partly filled with the excrement of the larva ; at c, the cavity began gradually to approach towards the centre of the tree, and take a regular shape, and continued at about half an inch in diameter. to D; extending from в to D, 11 in., and at D, 1 in. from the circumference of the tree. When the whole cavity was exposed, the larva appeared as at E, with its head upwards. On account of the hardness of the wood, and distance to which the insect had penetrated, I had some difficulty to get at it without injuring it, and accidentally let the chisel slip against its side;

B

the wound, though but slight at first, was sufficient to cause its death after it had changed to a pupa. Not knowing the insect in that state, I took it to Mr. Samouelle, who very kindly informed me, and also what treatment it required.

I should be obliged to any of your correspondents who would inform me if the larva undergoes its changes in the tree, and in what manner the imago

A

E

15

extricates itself. It appeared to me that the cavity, at and near the entrance

A, was much too

small for the exit of

the insect in either the larva or imago state.

The moth (fig.16.) is found in July, as Mr. Samouelle states, (See Ent. Usef. Comp. p.246.) in St. James's Park, against trees. I

16

would strongly recommend, to gardeners in general, a closer examination of the stems of their fruit trees, by which many young trees might be saved, and much information accrue to entomologists in that particular branch of the science. I remain, Sir, yours, &c. - · Andrew Mathews. Alfred House, Turnham Green, Sept. 18. 1828.

Distinction of Sex in Papilio Machàon. I beg to call the attention of your entomological readers to the distinction which the Cambridge collectors consider as marking the sexes of the Papilio Machàon while in the pupa state, viz. the colour. I obtained a number of the pupa of both kinds this spring; but, from an unlucky accident which happened to my specimens, was unable to decide this fact. I subjoin a description of both. They are exactly alike in shape, and correctly described in books as " angulated with two processes in front," and are fastened, by an anal and transverse thread, to the stalk of the Selinum palustre, or marsh milk-parsley (on which the larvæ feed), with the head upwards, and the back of the abdomen touching the stalk. The colour of that which is said to be the female is grass-green with a slight tinge of rufous down each side. The colour of the male varies from nearly black to a light brownish rufous, having a darker line down each side, and bordering the wing-cases; the two prominences on the front of the head, that on the under side of the front of the thorax, and the inner side of the prominences representing the fore legs of larvæ, are dark rufous, nearly approaching to black. The wing-cases are slightly tinged with the same colour, having a few black veins originating at the base, and running

towards the anal angle, giving out branches toward the exterior margin throughout their whole extent. The parts between what appear to be the antennæ are of a dark rufous colour; all parts which are not dark, are of a milky white. The characters which appear to be common to both are, the shape, and the rufous lines down the sides. I have found the above characters to hold in a large number of specimens.-C. C. Babington. 7. Hanover Street, Bath, July 8. 1828.

First Developement of a perfect Butterfly, or Moth.-Sir, Although in Kirby and Spencer's valuable work there is an interesting description of the first developement of the butterfly, yet I take the liberty of sending you an account of an instance which fell under my own observation, as it contains some particulars which do not appear in their narration.

The moth (Phala na pavònia, emperor) (fig. 17.), which I observed, was about five minutes getting out of its tomb; its wings were at first small, shrivelled, and flabby, its body very large and unwieldy; for the first five minutes after its exit it did nothing but stretch its legs, and lie first on one

side and then on the other, it afterwards lay gently down on its back, with its wings lying negligently at each side; its pulse at this period was at 60, for, as it lay stretched out, the joints of the abdomen, if I may use that term for the pliable parts which are not so visible in a mature subject (like the joints of a lobster's body), were transparent, and I could therefore see the internal movements: after remaining a few minutes in this state, the puls-. ation became considerably slower, and at the same time the wings began to grow, the first process was the injection of a yellow fluid from the body, which shot very rapidly into the nervure of the wings, and seemed to strengthen them. Their further developement continued to proceed from: the base the action resembled the convulsions of a bit of parchment in the fire, and the wings, from the nervures being tense, were very like a leaf of Savoy cabbage. In about a quarter of an hour they had attained to their full size, but not strength: one side was perfected before the other was half done; the colours and pencilling grew more evident and brilliant, as the wings increased in size, which was the most beautiful part of the process. The moth at last turned itself heels over head, and then walked about a little, but was very dull, and the wings did not attain their maximum of strength till about five hours after, when a copious evacuation took place, and it immediately became quite lively.-E. T. January, 1829. The stinging of a Gnat. — Sir, As an illustration of the principle that knowledge and pleasure are the result of care and labour, even in the most trifling things, I will relate to you the interest I lately felt in watching the

operations of a gnat while it was stinging me. On the 25th of October last, and about two o'clock in the day, a gnat (Culex pipiens) alighted on my forefinger; I held my hand still, and observed it. It immediately applied its proboscis to the skin, at the same time moving its antennæ and hind legs slowly up and down, which it continued to do for a few seconds, when it became apparently motionless, resting on its four front legs, with its hind ones stretched out in a line with its abdomen. I now felt a slight sensation where the proboscis was inserted, but so faint that, had not my attention been directed to it, I probably should not have noticed it; and this I only felt for a second or two. The abdomen now began to swell gradually, the influx of the blood being clearly visible, through its semi-transparent skin; at the same time, a clear watery liquid began to ooze from the anus, forming a round globule; it had a curious appearance, to see blood flowing in at one end, and water out at the other; the drop fell, and another formed, the abdomen all the time getting larger and larger, and redder and redder, till the second drop fell. The abdomen had now attained full three times its natural size, with a deep blood-red hue, when, to my great vexation, the door opened, and away flew my little toper, without appearing the least encumbered with its bloody cargo

I must further observe, that the insect was altogether about one minute on my finger; that no part of the outer sheath of its proboscis was inserted beneath the skin; that I did not receive any warning of its bloody intentions from its pipes. I mention this, because I think I have heard it affirmed, that they always do give warning before an attack; but what appeared to me the most remarkable is, that there was not the slightest pain, inflammation, or mark of any kind left that was perceptible. I remain, Sir, yours, &c.—J. A. St. John's Wood, Nov. 20. 1828..

Spinning Slugs. Sir, I have now before me a spinning slug, I mean a slug, which I discovered suspended by the tail from the leaves of a tree for the space of about a foot or more, and letting itself down towards the earth by means of a fine thread, like that of a spider, or that by which the larvæ of many lepidopterous insects descend from the branches of trees. With the single exception of its spinning propensity, the slug appears in all respects exactly like the ordinary small grey slug (Lìmax agrestis), so common every where, and so destructive in our gardens. I have several times met with these spinning slugs suspended by their threads; but, as I can discover no difference in size, colour, or form from the common slug, I should be glad to know whether they are to be considered as a distinct species, or whether the common slug may not uniformly possess the same faculty, though it has seldom occasion to exert it. The author of Elements of Natural History, speaking of slugs in general, says that "they spin a thread, by which they sometimes suspend themselves, or let themselves down from heights:" but this observation he makes while describing the general habits of the genus, without appropriating it to any particular species. My slug unfortunately made its escape from under the glass in which it was confined, before I had fully satisfied my curiosity respecting it. I could not perceive that it showed any disposition to spin while in confinement. W. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory, near Coventry, July 29. 1829

ART. II. Botany.

CURIOUS instance of Viviparous Production. As a friend of mine, a bo tanist, in this town, was looking at some pieces of the A'llium arenàrium, which he had kept by him for about two years, he found that several of the seeds were germinating in the calyx and some had even put forth their cotyledon.-L. E. O. Richmond, Aug. 10. 1828.

Lathra a squamària. This curious plant is certainly not parasitic, as has been supposed, for the plant has been transplanted from its original site to the garden, and it there grew well enough. I know of none capable of giving a more interesting account of it than my friend, J. C. Bowman, Esq. F.L.S., who has paid particular attention to its habitats and habits. Murray.

J.

White Varieties of Flowers. There are many flowers of which white varieties are to be found not mentioned by Smith. The Scilla nutans occurs perfectly white in a small wood close to Chestford Bridge, near Kenilworth, and likewise at Leamington, in a wood attached to the beautiful cottage of R. Poole, Esq., solicitor. It has been found also at Halstock, in this county. We have here the Prunella vulgàris, snow-white, the bracteas of which are without any tinge of purple.-W. H., R. N. Yeovil, August 5. 1828. Spontaneous Appearance of Epipactis latifolia. (fig. 18.)-Sir, about the year 1811 I enclosed a small piece of

ground, for the purpose of making an oak plantation. In the course of a few years, when the young trees began to form a low wood, I was surprised to see several fine plants of Epipactis latifòlia make their appearance among the oaks. They have ever since continued to do so in considerable abundance, and in various parts of the plantation. observe too, that it frequently (though by no means always) happens, that an individual plant dies after flowering, or at last ceases to come up again in the same identical spot a second year. Thus, e. g., in the summer of 1827, I had in the plantation several remarkably fine specimens, bearing a profusion of flowers, throwing up two or more stems from the root, and growing to the height of between 3 and 4 ft., the largest, in short, that I ever saw of the species. But, to my disappointment, these fine specimens did not throw up any shoots or leaves the following season; nor had I, though there was an abundance of specimens, either so many, or such fine ones, as in the preceding year. I do not find any very weak plants, having the appearance of being young seedlings, few occurring but such as are strong enough to produce flowers. I am unable, therefore, to state with any certainty, by what means the plant has propagated itself to its present extent. Still less am I able to account for its first appearance in this situation, coming up, as it did, spontaneously, and apparently springing into vigour all at once.

vege

Your botanical correspondents will probably be ready to propose an easy solution of the difficulty, by suggesting that the seeds had lain dormant in the ground (as, we know, often happens), till they were roused into tation by the earth being disturbed and prepared for the purpose of making the plantation. But this could hardly be the case in the present instance; for the piece of ground taken for the plantation consisted of a part of two fields, one arable, and the other sometimes in grass and sometimes in tillage; and both of them had frequently been ploughed no long time before