1397.] 185 



Re-occurrence of Porthexia chrysorrhna, L., at Sheernesa. — This moth has been so 

 rare of late years, that I record with mueli pleasure the occurrence of its larvae rather 

 plentifully about a mile from Sheerness. Early in the year the winter nests of the 

 young larvte were fairly numerous on the top shoots of one hawthorn hedge, which, 

 unfortunately, was clipped close in April, and the numbers of the insects greatly 

 reduced thereby. A few nests escaped the general destruction, and the larvae are 

 just now full-fed and spinning up. This is the first time that I have seen Porthesia 

 chrysorrhcBa alive in any of its stages since 1872. — James J. Walkee, 23, Ranelagh 

 Eoad, Sheerness : June 23r«?, 1897. 



Osphya bipunctata, F., S{c., in Monks Wood. — On June 3rd Dr. Sharp, in 

 company with Mr. Bateson and myself, went to look for Osphya bipunctata in Monks 

 Wood ; the day, however, was unfavourable, and we only found two specimens, both 

 females. It was perhaps too late in the season, but I believe that the insect must 

 have been scarce this year, for I find that Mr. Pegler, of Retford, who went to look 

 for it somewhat earlier, only found one male. Among other insects we found Clytus 

 mt/sticus (commonly), Tetrops prcBusta, Mordellistena abdominalis (male and 

 female), Dermestes murinus, Nitidula rufipes, Achenium humile, Melandrya cara- 

 hoides, Bruchus rufimanus (beaten ofP hawthorn), Haltica coryli, and Magdalinus 

 pruni. Among the Hemiptera- Homoptera, Centrotus cornutus was not uncommon, 

 while the Heteroptera were represented by Pentatoma hcBtnorrJioidale and a colony 

 of the very local Piezostethus cursitans, which occurred under the bark of a fallen 

 tree ; the best Lepidoptera seen were some good varieties of one or two species of 

 Hepialus and Macroglossa bombyliformis ; we also found some rather good Aculeate 

 Hymenoptera, which I believe have not yet been determined. — W. W. FowLEE, The 

 School House, Lincoln : July 2nd, 1897. 



The Cimex in the vests of domestic foiols. — Seeing a note regarding Cimices in 

 fowls' nests by Mr. Douglas (p. 159 ante), I think perhaps the following informa- 

 tion may be acceptable. The Cimex found in fowl roosts and pigeon boxes is the 

 same both in France, Germany and England, and is the species described by Jenyns 

 as Acanthia columbaria. It is a large brownish bug, about a quarter of an inch in 

 length, and which I have figured in my work on The Parasitic Diseases of Poultry 

 (Gurney and Jackson). Only once have I had any enquiry made regarding these 

 parasites in England, where they are far from common, owing to the great improve- 

 ment in recent years in poultry keeping. Railliet* refers to them and points out 

 how they so torment the birds as to cause them to desert their eggs, which may be 

 seen covered with the bugs' excrements. Should I receive amongst the numerous 

 enquiries sent me any more of these Cimices, I shall send them to some expert, as 

 mentioned in Mr. Douglas' note, in case the insect referred to by Railliet and others 

 is not correctly named. — Feed. V. Theobald, Wye Court, Wye : July 12th, 1897. 



Natural History Specimens and the Foreign Sample Post. — The agitation com- 

 menced by Lord Walsingham some years ago with a view to the transmission by 

 sample post of specimens of Natural History from this country to places abroad, 

 has at length been, to a certain extent, successful. At the Postal Congress recently 

 lield at Washington, permission was given to send specimens to countries within the 

 Postal Union, but unfortunately the Convention giving effect to that decision will 

 not come into operation until January 1st, 1899 ! — Eds. 



" Sur uuc Punaise qui attaqiic les Poules (Bull. d. 1. Soc. d. Med. A'et. Pratique, 1890, p. 9ft). 



Q 



