18 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



I thought I would try what success I could meet with by using her for 

 the purpose of attracting males of the same species. Towards dusk I 

 placed the $ in a large muslin bag and hung it in a slightly sheltered 

 pjsition in the wood, as the wind was rather high; but I was evidently 

 too early, as nothing came until an hour or so after dark, when all at 

 once I noticed an insect crawling over the muslin; being a great deal 

 too eager to net if, I must have knocked it down, as it disappeared and 

 not seeing any more for half an hour or so, I removed the bag and 

 when I was some distance away, found either the former or a second 

 male fluttering round it, and this time I netted it. I again hung the bag 

 up on the outskirts of the wood, and succeeded in taking another male 

 about 11.30 p.m. I paired the ? the same night; they were in cop. for 

 r 7 hours, the ? laid a quantity of ova, some of which I reared and used the 

 females the following season for the same purpose. The result of my 

 experience is that it is best to enclose the ? in a small muslin bag 

 (about 3 inches in diameter), as it or several are then more easily 

 carried ; I generally sit dovvn close under the tree and by looking up at 

 the bag against the sky, the insects attracted can easily be seen on the 

 white muslin. I have found the best time to be between 10 and £2 

 p.m. ; sometimes there are three or four round the bag at once, they 

 seem to come from above as if out of the branches overhead. At first 

 I lost several through being too hasty, as they will frequently dart off, 

 but if allowed to settle on the bag and crawl round a few times, there is 

 then not the slightest trouble to take them either with a bottle or a 

 chip box ; they will even crawl over the hand in their endeavour to 

 reach the % . I have seldom found the same ? of much use the 

 second night, although I have captured an odd male occasionally. One 

 slightly windy night I attracted a good number of males, and took the 

 same ? out the following evening, wliich was quite mild and warm 

 contrasted with the previous one. I waited by the bag fully two hours 

 without any result ; unfortunately I had not a second fresh $ at the 

 time, or it might have shown if the wind was of any assistance, I also 

 found, if placed together the same night, that the males and females 

 paired readily and the eggs proved fertile, whereas those I retained until 

 the following night seemed sluggish and little disposed to copulate. 

 Some did so, but with me the ova have proved infertile, which seems to 

 show that their attractive powers are most effective the first day. The 

 majority of those I have bred emerged from the pupai between 8 and 

 10 a.m., very rarely later. After drying their wings they settle down 

 quietly, but towards dusk, crawl up to a point where they can let their 

 bodies hang suitably for attraction. I have taken a good many males 

 at light but seldom met with any earlier than 10 p.m., so am of opinion 

 that the best time both for captures at light and assembling is from 10 

 to 12 p.m. — Hope Alderson, Farnboro', Kent, R.S.O. 



Erratic Appearance of Agrotis segetum and A. suffusa. — In 

 1887 Agrotis segetum was in great abundance near here, in fact they 

 were a perfect pest, while I did not see a single specimen of A. suffusa. 

 Last season (1889) suffusa abounded, while I did not see a single 

 specimen of segetum, although I sugared the same place every other 

 night.— J. Wylie, Bridgend, Perth, N.B. 



Early Spring Moths. — On Friday, January 31st (1890), I went 

 out to take some Hybernia progeuimaria, a very variable species here, 



