12 The Irish Naturalist. January, 



spite of the difficulty in rearing, a considerable number still survive 

 and with attention will, I hope, safely pass through the winter. They 

 feed carnivorously — and herbaceously — on dead moths, flies. Knot-grass 

 and rose leaves. They are indeed probably content with anything 

 eatable. The " Casta " group do not appear to be very successful in 

 building up their cases in confinement, generally commencing the business 

 by robbing the mother-case. My little Irish family have made a little 

 use of snippings of my beard, but have not attempted, although material 

 is provided, to construct the characteristic " faggot." 



It is not possible, under these conditions, to attempt to name the species. 

 I am hoping to get some of them through, and also to have Mr. Greer's 

 assistance with further material next year. There are a considerable 

 number of these " faggot-like " cases recognised as new by continental 

 collectors. Very little is known of them in Great Britain and Ireland, 

 and it is quite possible that there are several good species " lumped 

 together by us, under the name of casta Pallas — or the older names of 

 nitidella, roboricolella, and intermcdiella. I shall be exceedingly grateful 

 to any Irish collector of Lepidoptera who will help me in the investigation 

 of this Psychid family. 



C. R. X. Burrows. 



Mucking Vicarage, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. 



The Convolvulus Hawk-Moth in the Counties of Antrim 



and Down. 



In August Major A. Bingham Crabbe wrote to me that a specimen 

 of Sphinx convolvidi had been brought to him at Antrim Castle, 

 having been captured in the neighbourhood. It was a good deal battered 

 but quite recognisable. In October I met Mr. Wakefield Richardson, 

 of Moyallen, Co. Down, who told me that he had observed specimens 

 of this moth in the greenhouse at Moyallen. I sec by a note in the 

 " Ent. Mo. Mag." that specimens have been seen in Yorkshire, Lancashire, 

 and Cheshire. It is evident from these observations that there was a 

 considerable migration of this Hawk-moth from the continent. 



W. F. Johnson. 

 Poyntzpass. 



A Late Wasp. 



I have to-day, November . 20th, taken a male of the Common Wasp 

 [Vcspa vulgaris) which flew into the window of a room where I happened 

 to be. It is very unusual to see a male on the wing so late in the year, 

 and as we had quite sharp frosts last month it is the more remarkable. 



i'uyntzpass W, F. Johnson. 



