XV. An Account of some rare British Moths; with Descriptions from Lepidoptera Britannica. By J. HATCHETT, F. L. S. and F. E. S. With a Plate. PYRALINA Noctua. (The lunar spotted Pinion) alis rufo-purpureis strigis saturatioribus præundatis, lituraque postica sublunari costali alba. Lep. Brit. 247. Noctua Pyralina. Hüb. Schmet. Noct. 42. 203. EXPANSIO alarum 16 lin. OBS. This insect was taken in the year 1810, in the vicinity of London. After a careful research I have not met with it in any collection, british or foreign, neither does it appear to have been figured as british; but that assiduous Lepidopterist Hübner's figure accords with it in every respect. I have therefore little hesitation in pronouncing it new to Britain. 2. geminipunctata. Noctua. (The twin-spot Wainscot) alis rufo-fuscescentibus, vitta lata rufa marginis tenuioris, punctoque parvo geminato niveo loco stigmatis postici. Lep. Brit. 176. Tab. nost. 9. f. 1. EXPANSIO alarum 328 ACCOUNT OF SOME RARE BRITISH MOTHS. OBS. I took this rare species by mothing in the dusk of the evening in the month of August 1796, in the marshes near Hackney leading to Temple Mills. I have since frequently tried the same place at the same time of the year, in the hope of capturing others, but without success, till last year, when I took another exactly similar to the first. Excepting the above-mentioned specimens, I have sought for it in vain in numerous richly stored cabinets, and am therefore induced to give it as new to Britain. 3. conversaria. Geometra. (The large Carpet) alis griseis, fusco-atomosis, fasciâ latâ communi nigricante, extus obtuse biangulata. Lep. Brit. 302. Geometra conversaria. Hüb. Schmet. Geom. 62. 321. Tab. nost. 9. f. 2. EXPANSIO alarum OBS. It appears that this elegant species exists in few of the many rich collections of British Lepidoptera this country can boast of. A specimen in the extensive cabinet of British Insects of Mr. Francillon; another, exhibited by Mr. Leach to the Entomological Society of London, taken in Devonshire; and the one here figured, form the whole I have yet heard of. I received it last summer from a friend in Devonshire, who caught it near Kingsbridge. 1 XVI. Account of TENEBRIO MAURITANICUS, by Mr. KIRKUP; communicated by Mr. J. SURR, V.P.E.S. Read June 2, 1812. THE following history of the Tenebrio Mauritanicus of Linnæus, Marsham, &c. was transmitted to the Vice-President, along with the Insect, by the Rev. Mr. MORGAN, Librarian of Dr. Williams's Library, Red Cross Street. It is rarely if ever captured at large in England, and was perhaps originally introduced along with dry imported fruits. A few specimens taken on board the Solebay frigate were transmitted to the President, from Sierra Leone, by his son: And the former conceives that he has seen the larva feeding on a parcel of Earth Nuts (Arachis Hypogæa) which were also sent to him from Africa. Dear and Rev. Sir, In answer to your inquiries respecting the insect presented to you by my daughter Georgiana, the following particulars are all that I am able to learn. It was found on Good Friday, 1809, as a Maggot in a common Spanish Almond, its appearance differing from those found in our nuts or filberds; being whiter and longer, but more slender in its body, with a small black head. It was lively and alert. My Daughter placed it in a small Tunbridge box with its native Almond, in which state it remained about fifteen months, viz. till the month of July 1810, du ring which time nothing particular was observable, but its constant repugnance to light or air; for on the box being opened it always sheltered itself in or under the pieces of Almond. A few weeks before it assumed its present form, it was found to have buried itself entirely in the largest piece of the Almond, on the breaking of which it was discovered in a sickly and weak state, and its colour changed to a dingy disagreeable yellow, and with little animation. A few days after it became apparently inanimate, and so remained for three or four weeks, gradually becoming darker, but without assuming the form of a Chrysalis. Not having seen it for some days, its young Fosteress was surprised and pleased to find it in its present form alive and active. There was no hull or shell to be perceived, though minutely looked for. It retained its present form till its death, which did not take place till the end of February in the present year 1812, forming a period of nearly three years from its first discovery, (viz. about fifteen months as a Maggot, and one year and nine months in its present state,) exclusive of its term of existence previous to the breaking the nut, which most probably was many months. It is supposed that it fed on the Almond in both its states, as the bottom of the box was always observed to be covered with a yellow dust, or globules very small. In its present form it was very susceptible of cold, though with a great deal of care and attention it existed through two severe winters. On its first encountering the frost it was found on its back apparently dead; but on my daughter's breathing on it for some time it recovered, and she took good care to |