PRACTICAL HINTS. 23 



very old oaks and elms, so was of course very surprised and pleased to 

 see them in such numbers this spring. Does this mean that we are to 

 have a plentiful year for insect life, or an early spring? Phij^alia 

 pilosaria was also earlier than usual, though not nearly as common as 

 leucophcearia. I took my first on December 30th, 1889, though last 

 year they were still earlier, my first being taken on the 4th December, 



1888, which I suppose is abnormally early. This species I find varies 

 slightly; some being quite pale (green), while others are dark with 

 nearly black markings, the latter being much harder to see on the 

 weather-beaten fences. I have not troubled to look for them on the 

 oak trees in the Park, otherwise I should no doubt have found some 



? $ , all my captures in both species being $ $ with the exception of 

 one specimen. Progemmaria I took as early as February ist, though 

 I have never taken it previously before March, and took it last year in 

 good condition as late as April 5th. The time of emergence of 

 leucophxaria seems to be about 11 a.m., as I found a great many drying 

 their wings about that time. Can anyone inform me how the female 

 should be captured? — R. B. Robertson, Calcot, Reading. 



Sphinx ligustri in pupa two years.- — -Mr. Tugwell, in the Young 

 Naturalist for March, in an article on the probable origin of 

 Deilephila galii, says : — " I have had some species two or three years in 

 pupa, as Petasia nubeculosa, etc., but I never had a Hawk moth lie over, 

 and I think it is most unusual for them to do so." In 1887, I had 

 about 14 larvae of S. ligustri ^yhich pupated satisfactorily in 1888; 8 of 

 these came out at the usual time, and in clearing my breeding cages I 

 threw the remaining 6 pupae, which seemed quite stiff and dead, out to 

 be thrown away ; but instead they were put with some other rubbish 

 into an outhouse, where to my astonishment they emerged in June, 



1889, and splendid specimens they were. All 14 were in the same box 

 from the time of pupation until some time after the emergence of the 

 first batch in 1887, so that they all had the same conditions of heat, 

 damp, etc., and Nvhy some came out in 1887 and some in 1888, 

 remains a puzzle which I cannot solve. — T. Baxter, St. Anne's-on-the- 

 Sea, Lancashire. 



§gRACTICAL HINTS. 



{a) During summer look in reed-beds for reeds in which the central 

 leaves are yellow and appear dead. Cut such close to the water, and 

 place reeds in a jug of water. Several species, including Leucania 

 obsoleta, Nonagria genwiipuncta, etc., will be found. 



{b) During August look in beds of the Great Reed Mace {Typha 

 luijolia) for plants which have the central leaves yellow and dead. 

 Cut low down as possible, and place in water. Nonagria arundinis 

 (typJuf) will be bred. 



{c) In May look on small birch trees and examine suspicious- 

 looking catkins. Some of the catkins (?) will probably be larvce of 

 Geometra papilionaria. 



