1903.] 



151 



have been partly buried, and overgrown witli grass. I found a portion about two 

 inches square some way beneath the surface and where the cocoons were thickest. 

 —J. R. Mallooh, Bonhill, Dumbartonshire : April, 1903. 



HertfordsJnre County Mnseum, St. Alha>is : a reque.^t.^A collection of 

 British Lepidoptera is being formed. I shall be thankful if collectors will send 

 me any duplicate specimens they may have to spare. Hertfordshire insects will be 

 specially welcome.-A. E. Gibbs, Hon. Curator, Kitcheners' Meads, St. Albans: 

 April, 1903. 



Presermng the colour of Draffon,fl!es.-Movo than twenty-five years have 

 passed since T adopted the following method of preserving dragon-flies; the result 

 has stood the test of time, many done then have been in the Devon and Cornwall 

 Natural History Museum, Plymouth, for exhibition, upwards of twenty years. 

 Directly after death, clean out the contents of the thorax and abdomen. To do 

 this obtain along darning-needle, thread it with a short piece of fine cotton, t,e the 

 ends together so as to form a loop ; sling into this loop one or more strands of 

 cotton, or silk, according to the size of the insect ; for the largest, four strands may 

 be used, this would give eight threads in the thorax and abdomen, taking care to 

 select the cotton or silk of the predominant colour of the fly ; then pass the needle 

 into the fly, directlv under the head, through the thorax and abdomen, pulhng the 

 cotton or whatever is used through the body until it comes out quite clean, then 

 slide the abdomen up a little, cut off the end of the material used, pull the 

 abdomen down to cover it. then cut off close under the head, leaving the remainder 

 in the body. The fly will then be ready for setting. If it be thought necessary to 

 u.e a preservative against insect attack, damp the cotton with carhoUe acid before 

 using. For the small species use a smaller needle with only one double thread.- 

 G. C. BiGNELi, Saltash : 1903. 



TMr Bignell has obligingly sent me a <? each of PyrrUsoma ,ninium ^uA 

 Adrian puella,rej>.rea by his process. The result is fairly good so far as form 

 a,;d colours are concerned ; in the abdomen the colour of the enclosed sdken threads 

 is very evident, and it must not be forgotten that the l.l.e in different spec.es of 

 Adrian probably differs in exact tint in each species in life. The anal parts .n th 

 two examples sent are damaged or distorted. If the plan is to be a complete succs 

 it will be necessary in all cases to avoid this, and also to avoid damaging h 

 genitalia of the second segment in the males, and the vulvar scale on the 8th 

 ventral segment of the females, in LiMlutin., &c. ; these often forn. the only clu 

 to identification of nearly allied species. Furthermore, it will be necessary to 

 avoid injuring the pulverulent exudation so common in adult individuals of many 

 species.— B. McLachlak.] 



Coeci„l,adU,i„c,.,FM..Sc..a, ,F<,«..J.-A„,«ngst » few C«'~;,«.~ cap- 

 ,„re<l"here thi. spring, tl,e follomng .re pe,l,.p. noteworthy. Coc.neU. d..l,.c,« 

 Z two .peciL™ in ...,e pine-wood. ™n„i„g on .he gronn,, ,„ co„„»„J w.t h 

 ^'l 1« J.. T„i. i. the B,-.t .i,no I h.v. ,een 1. in «,. neighbourhood, thon h 

 n been on the look ont for U,e in.e,,,, for U,e p..,. .en ,e.u, The.e e„„,,„e, 

 n bew.nc>erer=fm»..heoldl„»li.y .. We,bridge, where ,. w., no. »re ,n 



