insect?" I leave the fact, and the inference I draw from it, for the consideration of your readers, if you think it worth recording.—J.F. Dawson; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, October 3, 1843.
Note on the Names of British Moths. During a recent visit to Paris, I took the opportunity of comparing some of our insects with the specimens in the splendid collection of M. Pierret; and having thus been enabled satisfactorily to clear up some confusion in the nomenclature, I send you a list of Bombyces and Noctuæ, and in a future number may make a few remarks on some Geometræ.
Hepialus carnus. The insect known by this name in England is a mere variety of H. velleda; the true H. carnus is very distinct, and has not been found in Britain.
Cerura bicuspis, (Stephens). This is the C. furcata of the continent; Hubner's bicuspis is very distinct.
Porthesia chrysorrhœa and auriflua. These names are reversed in England; chrysorrhcea of the continental authors being phaeorrhcea of Curtis and Donovan, and aurifiua the chrysorrhcea of English authors.
Orthosia sparsa, (Stephens &c.) The true Orthosia gracilis of continental authors.
Orthosia gracilis (Stephens). Noctua subplumbea (Haworth). The Orthosia populeti of Boisduval &c, and Noctua populeti of Fabricius.
Orthosia lunosa of British authors appears to be O. subjecta, but probably is not distinct from the Noctua humilis of Fabricius.
Mythimna grisea of Stephens &c. is the true Lithargyria of Hubner &c.
Agrotis pascuea of Curtis is Hadena australis of Boisduval, Aporophyla australis of Guenee.
Pyrophila Tragopoginis and tetra. We have only the former species in Britain; P. tetra is a totally different species, with copper-coloured wings.
Xylina semibrunnea of English authors is the true X. petrificata; and petrificata of English cabinets is the X. oculata of Germar.
Hadena ochracea (Stephens) is the Dianthesia Echii of Boisduval.
Mamestra aliena (Stephens' Cat. No. 6223) is M. infesta, Och. M. anceps, Hub.
Apamea unanimis (Och.) This is the species known in this country by the name of A. secalina, but the secalina of Hubner is a mere variety of A. didyma.
Miana Duponchelii, (Bois. &c.) This species occurs in Britain, and is probably the Noctua minima of Haworth.
Miana literosa (Stephens) is the M. suffuruncula of Ochs.
Miselia compta of British cabinets is Noctua conspersa, W.V. I have not seen a British specimen of compta, though it probably occurs here. The genus Dianthesia of Boisduval is a most natural one, although the British species belonging to it have been placed in three or four different genera, and associated with species to which they seem very little allied. The following are the British species:—1. Dianthesia albimacula, Bork. 2. D. conspersa, W.V. 3. D. cæsia, W.V. 4. D. capsincola, Esp. 5 D. Cucubali, W.V. 6. D. Echii, Bork.
Cucullia Solidaginis (Stephens) appears to be C. Gnaphalii, Hub.
The insect taken at York by my friend Thomas H. Allis, and supposed to be Apamea unanimis, is Orthosia congener of Boisduval, of which Caradrina iners of Treitschke is a variety.—Henry Doubleday; Epping, August 30, 1843.
Note on Cerura Vinula. Last summer I found several caterpillars, and put them into a breeding-cage together. In due time they formed their cocoons as usual, against the side of the cage, except one, which made its covering just below the surface of the