Sphinx nerii at Southampton. 601 



received a few from near Ringwood. " A much smaller variety 

 is found on the Alps," and other observations, show locality 

 has an influence on many species, such as size, colour, or 

 markings. I found three or four whitish varieties of (Bom- 

 byx) plantaginis on the Alps of Westmoreland. — Eulepia 

 cribrum (pi. 561.). "Very rare; one near Berne ;" on Parley 

 Heath and neighbourhood, very common. I suppose I must 

 have given away more than 200 specimens, but have not taken 

 any myself for several years. — Mr. Raddon has one Zygae v na 

 filipendulae without the sixth spot in the margin, and another 

 with it nearly obliterated. — J. C. Dale. Glanvilles Wootton, 

 Sept. 21. 1836. 



Insect Habits. — " How singular is the comparative abun- 

 dance of some species of insects in different seasons ! Here 

 we have generally a fair share of cockchafers, and a good 

 sprinkling of Cetonia aurata. This season I have seen but 

 one individual of the former ; while scarcely a dog-rose is to 

 be seen, in any hedge, which has not several of its flowers 

 ornamented by the green and gold back of one of the latter, 

 who is thrusting his unwieldy form amongst the stamens. I 

 am quite certain that, during the first three weeks of June, I 

 could have gathered from four to five dozen daily from a 

 single moderately-sized Pyracantha bush, in my own garden, 

 on which Hoplia squamosa also completely swarms. There 

 is a caprice sometimes shown by insects, which I cannot un- 

 derstand. That a certain species should always prefer a 

 white rose to a red one, is perfectly comprehensible ; but, in a 

 garden, containing a great number of white rose trees, all of 

 them separated from one original individual, and planted in 

 exactly similar situations, why should J5uprestis nitidula 

 come flying from all points of the compass, and, during many 

 years in succession, almost invariably alight in some four or 

 five of the white rose trees, to the rejection of all the others ? 

 On two trees, about 8 ft. or 10 ft. apart, many of them 

 may be found, and not one on an intermediate tree. I once 

 thought that the neglected trees might have some other plant 

 in their neighbourhood, which might give offence; but have 

 found that not to be the case, as they will frequent one bush, 

 and reject another, which has exactly the same neighbours, 

 as well as aspect, soil, &c. — P. J. Brown. Thun, Sept. 1 2. 

 1835. 



Capture of Sphinx (Deilephila ?) nerii at Southampton. 



Mr. N. M. Priaulx of this town has a fine specimen of the 

 above noble insect, which he obtained from Mr. Ingram, a 

 nurseryman in Southampton, who has paid some attention 

 to entomology, and who assured me that he captured it him- 

 self, about four years ago, near Netley, or Marchwood, but 



