SOME TENANTS OF BANANA-CRATES, 209
green species, Panchlora cubensis, reminding one more of a
Lacewing Fly than of a cockroach, which is found repeatedly.
A cricket, Jamaicana sp., indicates its country of origin by its
generic name.
The only coleopteron noted hitherto was a small tortoise-
beetle, with the long name, Pseudomesomphala thoreyi; and a
fine butterfly, Opsiphanes tamarindi, comes as a surprise to
round off the class Insecta.
A single gasteropod, Plenrodonta aspersa, was the only repre-
sentative of the Mollusca.
Coming to the vertebrates, a snake, Petalognathus nebulatus,
another banana-immigrant, caused some amount of consternation
by effecting its escape in the Museum, not being recaptured until
the following day. Fortunately, it is a non-poisonous species.
The only mammalian representative was what is thought
to be the embryo of a West Indian Night Mouse. This mouse is,
I am informed, common on the banana-ships, which explains
its occurrence among the bananas.
The above are probably but a few of the strange lodgers
which may be associated accidentally with this popular fruit,
but they are sufficient to give us cause for thankfulness that
the banana fruit is furnished with a tough leathery skin of
non-edible character.
Nature-notes from Harlow. etc.—We have had quite
a number of specimens of the Comma Butterfly (Polygonia
c-album) here this autumn. I counted four on my Michaelmas
Daisies this morning. I have never seen this insect in Essex
before, and it looks as though it were continuing its recent
spread eastwards. I also heard of two at Little Laver in
August.
I also saw a Clouded Yellow (Colias edusa) at Waltham
Abbey in September last.
I am sorry to say Grey Squirrels have appeared at Nazing.
Geoffrey Dent.
Passmores, Harlow.