258 [October, 



general ground colour was lighter. The dark marks were merely borders to tho 

 yellow oblique stripes (which were much more pronounced), and were not prolonged 

 past them, or carried down the back at all. 



The brown variety was of a dirty yellowish-white ground colour, clouded with 

 deep brown, the markings being thickest on the back and almost absent below tlie 

 spiracles nearly to the claspers, which were again brown. The spiracles were en- 

 closed in a darker biotch, and the brown cloudings on the sides were so clustered as 

 to suggest to the eye the usual oblique stripes of the hawk-moth caterpillars, but 

 only indistinctly. The horn in this brown variety was all black, as also were the 

 legs. The face was yellowish-brown, with the same black stripes as the green 

 variety. The lai-gest of the five caterpillars was about four and a half inches in 

 length, almost as large as that of A. Atropos. 



All these larvae have now " gone down " into the soil to pupate, and I am 

 anxiously awaiting the emergence of the perfect insects. From what I can hear 

 this is the first record of the larvte of S. convolvuli having been taken in Yorkshire. 

 I might say that the caterpillars have been shown to Mr. W. E. Brady, of Barnsley, 

 a well known entomologist, who expresses his opinion that the larvte certainly are 

 those of <S. convolvuli ; Mr. Harrison, F.E.S., of Barnsley, is also of the same 

 opinion. — A. Whitaker, Saville House, Worsbrough Bridge, Barnsley : Sept., 1901. 



Sphinx coiivohntii in Surrey. — Last Sunday afternoon my gardener brought me 

 a fine (J specimen of Sphinx convolvuli which he had taken in the morning (flying 

 in the sunshine) between Chessington and Bones Gate, about two and a half miles 

 from here. I have heard of the capture of other specimens in the neighbourhood. 

 — H. Goss, The Avenue, Surbiton Hill : August 2Hth, 1901. 



Flu.na moneta at Eltham. — I found on May 3rd last seven quite small larvse 

 of Plusia moneta on a plant of Delphinium in my garden. This suggested a visit 

 to my neighbours' gardens, with the result that I collected quite a number of the 

 larvte. I bred about fifty of the moth during the last half of June, but no ichneu- 

 mons. I also found a few larvse at Sidcup, and received others from Thames Ditton 

 and Bed Hill. — A. H. Jones, Shrublands, Eltham, Kent: September 1st, 1901. 



Acherontia Atropos, L., in Dumbartonshire. — I have a bred specimen of this 

 species brought to me in good condition from this neighbourhood to-day. It is 

 the only record for the district for a number of years. — J. R. Malloch, Bonhill, 

 Dumbartonshire: September 9th, 1901. 



Catocala nupta in north-ivest London. — During August ten specimens of this 

 species were taken at sugar placed on the trunks of pear trees in the garden here 

 after dark, much to the delight of the youthful captors of these unexpected visitors. 

 They are in fine condition, showing that they have not long been out, nor flown far. 

 One example was taken on the 12th instant. — J. W. Douglas, Morningside, Craven 

 Park, Harlesden, N.W. : September lith, 1901. 



Sapid development of Smerinthtis ocellatus. — I send you the following facts, 

 which I think may interest your readers. On June 9th of this year I had a large 

 brood of Smerinthus oceJIatus larvae hatched. The ova were laid bv a moth with 



