Note on the occurrence of the Opah, or King-fish, on the coast of Norfolk. On the 6th of July a fine specimen of the opah (Lampris guttatus) was brought to Norwich, having been left by the tide on the beach at Eccles, on the western coast of Norfolk. It was a male fish, and weighed between four and five stone. The stomach was empty, and some parts of the flesh were bruised by the action of the waves upon the beach. Where this was not the case, the flesh was found quite eatable, and had a very sweet and rich taste. The flesh of the opah has been sometimes described as being red, like that of the salmon, but in the present case, it was white, with a tinge of yellow. The iris of the eye, which has also been described as being red, in this specimen was of a silvery white colour. Three other specimens are on record as having occurred on the coast of Norfolk: two of these, which are mentioned in Paget's 'Natural History of Yarmouth,' occurred near that town, the one in December, 1823, and the other in November, 1828: and the third was obtained at Hunstanton, in July, 1839, and is now in the Wisbeach Museum.-J. H. Gurney; Norwich.

Duval's Fossil Terebratula (Terebratula Duvallii), natural size.

a. View of the upper surface of a mature shell.

b. Front view of the same. c. Side view of the same. d. View of the upper surface of a younger shell. e. Diagram, in which the outer line shows the outline of the shell a, the inner line the outline of the shell d, and the intermediate dotted line a supposed shell of intermediate growth.

Note on Duval's Fossil Terebratula. I am indebted to the kindness of Professor Duval Jouve, of Grasse, in the South of France, for the above sketches of two fossil shells in his collection, each of which he supposes unique, but at the same time expresses a very decided opinion that both are referrible to one species. The drawings

were sent by the hands of my brother, for publication in 'The Zoologist.' My own acquaintance with shells is so slight, that I hesitate to draw up a description; but in proposing for this singular fossil the name of Terebratula Duvallii, I hope the figures will be considered sufficiently precise to establish the species, without the aid of the customary technical characters. I will however venture to invite attention to a striking peculiarity of the larger shell (fig. a), the existence of a perfectly circular aperture through its very centre: and to mention that this character is unknown to Mr. Bowerbank as existing in any recent or fossil Terebratula, or in any allied genus. Prof. Duval Jouve, believes the lesser shell (fig. d) to be a younger state of the larger (fig. a), and suggests that shells of an intermediate form and size exist, as indicated by the dotted line in fig. e. Certain lines visible on the upper valve of the larger shell, I consider as corroborative of this opinion. In the same figure the outer line is an exact outline of the larger, and the inner an exact outline of the lesser shell. The correspondence between the two, as regards the central opening, is thus clearly shown.— Edward Newman; Peckham, July 17, 1844.

Anecdote of a Hunting Spider. I was much amused the other day with the proceedings of one of the hunting spiders (Salticus). He was a fine fellow, and very lively; and was running about on a large leaf, apparently on the look out for food. When near the tip of the leaf, a fly alighted at its base: in an instant the spider turned and faced the fly. After steadily pointing for a short time, he sidled off towards the edge of the leaf, but with a motion so slow as to be almost imperceptible, and still keeping his head directed towards the fly. On reaching the edge of the leaf, he quickly turned over, and crept along on the under side, every now and then popping up his head to see how near he had got to his intended victim. When he arrived at what he considered a convenient distance, he returned to the upper side of the leaf, and with one bound cleared the distance (nearly two inches) between himself and the fly; the latter, however, was too quick for him, and flew off at the moment he made his spring, otherwise, so well directed was his aim, that he must have alighted on the fly's back. Poor fellow! he appeared much ashamed of his failure, and slunk away to the shelter of a leaf which hung down on the one where he had been hunting. - Geo. Luxford; 2, Ebenezer Row, Kennington Lane, August 13, 1844.

Note on a minute Acarus found on a Moth. I found about thirty specimens of the enclosed odd-looking parasites adhering to the wings of a small common moth, which I captured a few days ago while flying. And not having noticed such an occurrence before, nor seen it mentioned by any author with whom I am acquainted, I have taken the liberty of sending specimens to you, hoping that some of the readers of 'The Zoologist,' who may have noticed such an occurrence, would be kind enough to favour me with the name, through the medium of that interesting publication. I found them both on the upper and under side of the wings, but mostly on the under, adhering so pertinaceously as not to be removed without difficulty, and frequently tearing away the scales from the wing in attempting to retain their station. The moth had a rag

ged and unhealthy appearance, and was denuded of scales to a considerable extent. I find that in drying the colour has faded considerably. When alive, the body was blood red, with a spot on the disk, and the legs white. — I. J. Bold; 24, Cloth.Market, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, July 17, 1844.

[These creatures are evidently Acari, and are so minute as scarcely to be observable without the aid of a lens: the colour is now a uniform pale dull yellow; the rostrum is short and very acutely pointed, it has an evident longitudinal groove; the cheliceræ are very stout, incurved, acutely pointed, and equal to the rostrum in length; the legs are eight in number, and widely separated at their base, all of them slender, the 1st and 2nd pairs more so than the others, and very much longer. Nothing is more common than for insects to be infested with minute Acari: an anecdote on this subject has long been an article of profound faith among entomologists. A brother of the net was standing up under a tree, to avoid the pelting of a passing shower. A huge humble bee flew heavily towards him, and alighted on an ant-hill at his feet. The ants being driven in by stress of weather, did not observe the visitor, so he set to and tore up the surface of the hill in fine style; out came the ants in a desperate passion, and soon assailed the leviathan that had so unceremoniously injured their habitation. The entomologist went down on his hands and knees to see the issue, when to his surprise he found that the bee was infested by a multitude of Acari, and that the ants were picking them off and carrying them away. This task was speedily accomplished; the bee rose on humming wing, and went about his usual a vocations; and the ants again retired within their nest.-Edward Newman].

:

Note on Pontia Metra. I am disposed to consider this insect as merely a variety of P. Rape, and not a distinct species, which some entomologists have pronounced it to be. From the circumstance of its earlier appearance than P. Rapa; from its being in general smaller, and apparently more delicate; and from its not occurring later in the season, when that insect is so abundant; I, for some time, believed it to be specifically distinct last autumn, however, I took numerous caterpillars of P. Rapæ, evidently belonging to the same brood, and exactly corresponding in appearance one with another in every respect, which shortly after underwent their transformation in the breeding-cage. The perfect insects have now emerged, and from these same caterpillars have been produced every variety of Rape and Metra respectively; some exactly corresponding with the description referrible to each insect, and others presenting an appearance between the two: some have the spot on the upper disk of the anterior wing entirely wanting, others with it obsolete, others with it very distinct, and the tip more or less so; others again are sprinkled all over the largest portion of the upper side of the wings with dark points. These dark points, which occasion a dusky appearance, when subjected to the microscope, are found to be scales, similar to those which compose the spot on the disk and the tip of the anterior wing; and are in shape much longer and narrower, and of a deeper and richer colour than the ordinary scales. I have not found any variation in form and colour between these darker scales taken from the wings of specimens of P. Rapæ, and those from individuals usually referrible to P. Metra; but some of the commoner scales, taken from the wings of certain specimens, present a very marked difference. I am not, however, aware, whether a variation in the form of the scales on the butterfly's wing has ever been adopted, or is to be considered admissible, as an additional criterion, whereby to judge generally of the specific distinction between insects closely approximating to each other in appearance, of which the larva has not been discovered. From the wings of some, having the spot on the disk very distinct, I have taken numerous scales shaped as in the margin; from examples which would indubitably

Y

Scale from the wing of
P. Metra? magnified.

come under the denomination of P. Metra, scales in general similarly formed; whilst on the more dusky specimens (evident female examples of P. Rapa) I have as yet discovered none at all which assume this peculiar character. The fact above recorded, namely, the production of examples of P. Rapæ and Metra from caterpillars resembling one another in every respect, together with the corresponding form of the scales of the wings (with two female exceptions), would seem to establish their identity, as mere varieties of the same insect. Perhaps some of your more experienced readers may feel sufficient interest in the subject to make further experiments, and I shall myself be happy to furnish any further information that may be desired.—J. F. Dawson ; Ventnor, I. of Wight.

Enquiry respecting Colias Edusa and C. Hyale. Have these butterflies been observed during the present autumn? The septennial theory regarding Hyale, and the quadrennial one regarding Edusa, require that neither should appear in 1844, except accidentally and sparingly.-Edward Newman.

Note on a supposed new British Butterfly. I learn from Mr. H. Doubleday, that Mr. Weaver supposes he has taken a butterfly new to this country. It is described by Mr. Weaver as being an Hipparchia, and intermediate in size between H. Blandina and H. Cassiope. Eight specimens only have been captured, the wind being rough, and causing much difficulty in securing them. The locality is at a considerable elevation on one of the Scotch mountains. It may be observed that no entomologist is more thoroughly acquainted with our British butterflies than Mr. Weaver, and therefore he is not likely to be mistaken as to its being a novelty. I hope before the appearance of the October number to have obtained further particulars, and to be able to publish a figure. —Id.

Enquiry respecting Polyommatus Artaxerxes. I have today met with a friend, who, about a month since, captured about twenty specimens of this butterfly upon Arthur's Seat, near Edinburgh. All of them possess the white spot in the centre of the upper wing, and all agree in having the eyelets underneath obscured. I possess specimens of Salmacis from Castle Eden Dean, which entirely want these distinguishing characters; and also a single specimen from the same locality, captured by a friend, who resides near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which possesses them. Why should these insects be considered mere varieties? I have heard it advanced that Agestis, Salmacis and Artaxerxes are one and the same insect. James B. Hodgkinson; 12, Friday St., Preston.

On

[The idea of combining these species originated with myself, as will appear by the following extract from the Entomological Magazine,' ii. 515. "From examining specimens of Polyommatus Agestis from different localities, I have arrived at a conclusion which will not, fear, be coincided with by many of our Lepidopterists. the South Downs of Sussex and Kent, Agestis assumes what may be called its typical form. I have taken it at Ramsgate, Dover, Hythe, Hastings, Rye, Brighton, Worthing, Little Hampton, Chichester, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, Dorsetshire, Somersetshire; and throughout this range it is very similar: then, going upwards, I have met with it at Worcester, Birmingham, Shrewsbury; and here an evident change has taken place, the band of rust-coloured spots has become less bright; at Manchester these spots have left the upper wing almost entirely; at Castle Eden Dean they are scarcely to be traced, and a black spot in the centre of the upper wing becomes fringed with white; the butterfly then changes its name to Salmacis. We proceed further northwards, and the black pupil leaves the eyes on the under side, until at Edinburgh they

are quite gone; it is then called Artaxerxes.

The conclusion I arrive at is this, that

Agestis, Salmacis, and Artaxerxes, are but one species."-Edward Newman].

Note on a Variety of Pamphila linea. On the 22nd of July I took a delicate buff variety of Pamphila linea. It was the only one I could find out of many hundreds of specimens I saw that day on the wing. The decided black margin, contrasting with the pale ground colour of the wings, makes it a very pretty insect. — H. W. Bates ; Leicester, August 15, 1844.

Note on the occurrence of clear-winged Sphingidæ near Leicester. We have taken in our neighbourhood the two species of Egeria, the Trochilia, tipuliforme and formicaforme, and Sesia fuciformis. The differences between the two Egeria I think are but obscurely known. I took Lewin's crabroniformis in a damp oak wood, flying in July, horizontally over a row of tall Umbelliferous flowers, and the other species has been taken by Mr. Plant in June, on the stems of osiers. Sesia fuciformis (the narrow border) I took twice in May, from the flowers of the common bugle, growing in grassy pathways in old woods: and Trochilium formica forme has been added to our list by Mr. Plant, who took it in July from Umbelliferæ, in the snipe-grounds of Grooby-pool.-Id.

Note on the capture of Trochilium Ichneumoniforme. A short time since, in an entomological ramble, I took a specimen of Trochilium Ichneumoniforme, which I believe is a very rare moth. It proved to be a female, and during her captivity she laid a little batch of eggs. These I am anxious to hatch, and rear the larvæ. Can you inform me on what they feed? Westwood does not mention the food of the caterpillars. If you are not acquainted with what they eat, would you be kind enough to make the enquiry in The Zoologist,' as doubtless some of your readers will know.John Pemberton Bartlett; Kingston, near Canterbury.

[A great number of the same species has been taken by sweeping the herbage about the pit at Charlton, a very celebrated entomological locality. Messrs. Douglas, Stevens, Ingall and Bedell, have been the fortunate captors. Mr. Ingall observes that it principally frequents the devil's bit scabious, (Scabiosa succisa).-E. Newman]. Note on the hatching of the Eggs of the Orgyia antiqua which had never been impregnated. Last summer I found a chrysalis of this moth, which I placed in a large pill-box, with a few pin-holes pierced in the top. In due time a female moth appeared, which was never taken out of the box, yet laid a plentiful supply of eggs. I frequently said that the eggs might be thrown away, but it was never done; and much to my astonishment, on opening the box when I returned home a few days since, I found several small caterpillars had already made their appearance, others are still coming out, and all of them are now enjoying themselves with a few rose-leaves with which I supply them.-J. B. Harrison; Barham, near Canterbury.

[I shall be very glad to hear whether these caterpillars ever arrive at maturity. — E. Newman].

Note on the capture of Lasiocampa Trifolii and Agrotis annexa. Mr. Gregson, of Liverpool, captured a male specimen of the former insect on the wing, at New Brighton, in August last: and about the same time he got a shattered specimen of Agrotis annexa, in a fisherman's cabin at the rabbit-warren, New Brighton. Both these specimens he liberally added to my collection.-R. S. Edleston; Manchester, April 11,

1844.

Note on the capture of Mamestra suasa, Ochs. (Dens canis, Haw.) I possess a female specimen of this rare moth, captured under a grass sod, on the 31st of May, 1842,