2Q0 [November, 



Chcerocampa nerii, Acherontia Atropos and Sphinx convolvuli, near Weymouth. — 

 An Oleander Hawk-moth {Chcerocampa nerii) was brought to me alive in a card box 

 on September 24th last by a little boy, and, strange to say, was almost uninjured. 

 It was cauglit at rest by Mrs. New, a resident in the village of Chickerell, about 

 half a mile distant from my house, who, knowing my tastes, kindly sent it to me. 

 It is a beautiful specimen, a female, and 4j inches across the wings. This is the 

 first hawk-moth rarer than A. Afropox or iS. convolvuli (both of which species 

 have, as usual, occurred here this year) that I have either caught or had brought to 

 me during 30 years' collecting. — Nelson M. Richaedson, Montevideo, near 

 Weymouth : October lOth, 1900. 



Reliothis scutosa, Schiff., in South Devon. — On September 4th, whilst I was 

 looking for Colias Edusa, var. Helice, in a clover field near Dartmouth, accompanied 

 by my son, F. Capel Hanbury, a very pale looking moth flew up from under his 

 feet. He made several unsuccessful attempts to catch it, and we both watched the 

 moth fly into a hedge, marking the exact spot. On reaching it we found there was 

 a rabbit-run into the next field, and after fruitlessly searching and beating tlic 

 hedge presumed the moth had flown through the hole. Climbing over, we paced 

 up and down in the grass for nearly half an hour, then abandoned the search and 

 returned home to lunch, discussing what the moth could be, and arriving at the con- 

 clusion that it was probably a specimen of Deiopeia pulchella. After lunch my son 

 said he would return to the clover field, " in case the moth is back again." His 

 perseverance was rewarded. On reaching the field, and after a short search near 

 the same spot, he saw his friend start up again, fly a few yards, and then commence 

 buzzing like a Plusia gamma among the heads of the clover. Not to be beaten this 

 time he crept up and put the net straight down over it. Great was his disappoint- 

 ment at finding that it was not D. pulchella, but only a much worn Noctua that he 

 did not recognise. Returning, he brought his capture to Mr. Eustace R. Bankes 

 (who was staying with us) and me, for identification. We soon saw what a prize 

 had been captured. The specimen is a male, but unfoi'tunately its condition leaves 

 much to be desired, and our only regret was that we had not visited the field a week 

 or two earlier, when, if bred there, it was probably in fine plumage. Mr. Bankes 

 points out (1) that Artemisia vulgaris, a. common food-plant of H. scutosa, is plenti- 

 ful in the hedge beside which the moth was taken, and (2) tJiat it is remarkable 

 that although with us H. scutosa is generally, and probably with reason, regarded 

 as a casual immigrant from the continent, not a single one of the ten British 

 specimens recorded in Barrett's " British Lepidoptera" was captured near the south 

 coast of England, Weston-super-Mare being the southernmost station from which 

 it has heretofore been reported. — Fredeeick J. Hanbuey, Stainforth House, Upper 

 Clapton, N.E. : September 2Uh, 1900. 



Retinia sylvestrana and Stathmopoda pedella at Ouestling. — Both these rare 

 or local species have occurred here this season. A single specimen of Retinia 

 sylvestrana, Curt., was taken in the Rectory, having doubtless come from some 

 species of Pinus growing near the house, while several specimens of Stathmopoda 

 pedella, L., were taken among alders in Brooujliam Park on July 13th. 



