1003.] 281 



Machxrites ghihratus, Rye, at Charing, Kent.—K single specimen of this rare 

 insect was taken on August 2nd bj iny friend Mr. Claude Morley by shaking long 

 moss growing on a hot chalk declivity. It occurred with the very local ant, Ponera 

 contracta, with which Mr. Morley suggests it probably associates. 



In the translation of " Reitter's Tables " in " L'Abeille " {Paussides, &c.,p. 53, 

 1883) the anterior femora of glabratus are stated to be without denticulations on 

 the under-side. In Mr. Morley's specimen, which seems to agree well with Rye's 

 original description (Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. vii, p. 33), the anterior femora are plainly 

 denticulated. The question thus arises, is it a sexual distinction, is Reitter in error, 

 or have we a second British species of Machxrites closely allied to ylabratus ? The 

 rarity of the species prevents my being able to solve these questions. — E. A. New- 

 BEEY, 12, Churchill Road, N.W. : October I'oth, 1903. 



Homalium testaceum, Er., near Ipswich. — A fine male of the above was taken 

 by Mr. Morley at the roots of plants growing on a bank by the roadside — a mere 

 cart ti'ack through a field — at Witnesham, near Ipswich, on June 30th, 1903. — ^Id. 



Laphygina exigua near Chelmsford. — On September 23rd I was rather surprised 

 at taking four specimens of L. exigua at light near East Hanniugfield. I have used 

 a light about twice a week in September for about ten years in this locality, but the 

 insect has never turned up before. One was much worn, and one in excellent con- 

 dition, the otlier two being fairly good. — W. C. BoYD, The Grange, Waltham Cross : 

 October lUth, 1903. 



Concerning an old record of Chariclea delphinii in England. — It may perhaps 

 be well to place on record that the specimen of C. delphinii, caught by Mr. Jones in 

 his garden at Chelsea {vide Barrett's " British Lepidoptera," vol. vi, p. 145) is in 

 my collection. From Mr. Jones's collection it passed to Mr. Druitt, who, in turn 

 presented it to Mr. J. N. Winter, formerly of Brighton, from whom I received it 

 some years ago ; it must be now more than a hundred years old. — Id. 



Choerocampa Celerio, S^c, in the Midlands. — The occurrence of Ch. Celerio is 

 sufficiently i-are to warrant the notice of its capture in the Midlands. On October 

 8th, 190u, I was informed that a large moth had been secured for me creeping up 

 the cloth of a supper table in a farmhouse on the borders of Staffordshire and 

 Shropshire. Unfortunately, by passing through two or three hands, the specimen 

 was rather damaged before it reached me, but from its general appearance there was 

 no doubt that the insect had only recently emerged. I was delighted to find it was 

 Ch. Celerio ; it is interesting to note that its food plant, Virginia Ci'eeper, was 

 growing up the liouse just outside the window. Unfortunately I was unable to pay 

 a visit to and investigate the spot, in the chance of finding either pupae or perfect 

 insects. Acronycta alni has occurred here in the larval state ; one in my own 

 garden crawling along a path, and a second under beech leaves in one of the 

 village streets. My son took Cirrhaedia xerampelina last autumn off the trunk of 

 an ash.— Abthue T. Wills, Brewood, Stafford : September 20th, 1903. 



A swarm of ("anessa cardui. — Even where not themselves eye-witnesses of the 

 fact, readers of the daily newspapers, &c., have become aware of the sudden 



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