108 



13. — Miscellaneous Notes and Obseevations. 

 entomology. 



[Read 14th October, 1875.] 



Appearance of Sphinx Convolvuli. — The Meteorological Society 

 having requested that occasional appearances in considerable 

 numbers, of insects usually scarce, should be noted with a view 

 to the elucidation of " seasonal phenomena," it is proper to 

 record the capture during the past few weeks of several specimens 

 of Sphinx Convolvuli (the convolvulus hawk-moth), an insect not 

 usually by any means common. 



I have heard of seven specimens having been taken in Watford, 

 and of an eighth having been seen since, which has as yet escaped 

 capture. Of the seven which have been taken, two or three were 

 found at rest in early morning upon door-knockers. One, a very 

 fine male, so taken by Mr. Hodgson, one of our letter-carriers, has 

 been very kindly presented to me by the captor. Mr. Hodgson 

 took two others, one of which is in his own collection, and the 

 other in that of Mr. Jonathan Chater, who has two more captured 

 this year. One, which flew into a florist's shop, is in Dr. Brett's 

 possession; and Mr. Clarence Fry has captured one flying over some 

 petunias in his garden, and has seen another, but at present has 

 failed to take it. Mr. Lawford has taken three at Hitchin hovering 

 over flowers at dusk, and Mr. Fry has had two sent to him from 

 ^Norfolk. 



Probably the next issue of the Entomological Journals will con- 

 tain records of captures of this insect in many other parts of the 

 country, as it is one of those that is usually scarce, but in some 

 years appears in abundance over a large district. These occasional 

 appearances are at present quite unaccounted for, and I am inclined 

 to doubt whether any connexion will be discovered between them 

 and seasonal phenomena. — Arthur Cottam, Watford. 



[Read 11th November, 1875.] 



Botany of Wed Suffolk.— I find the Botany of West Suffolk very 

 different from that of Middlesex. I have not yet met with any- 

 thing that is specially rare. I have, however, in a small area, 

 marked down upwards of 500 plants — among them several of con- 

 siderable interest, as IFolfonia palusfris, Ifi/drocharis Jforsus-nina, 

 Parnassia palusfris, Anf/rrhinu»i Oroi/fii/i/i, Sisf/i/ihrium Sophia, 

 Iberis amara, Thlaspi arvense, Turritis glabra, Scleranthus perennis, 

 Nepeta Cataria, and Rtimex pulcher. — \_Rev.'] W. M. Hind, Honing- 

 ton Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds. 



