214 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



Hadena genistce appears to be a difificult species to get through 

 properly ; my experience coincides with Miss Kimber's in every 

 respect, a grand batch of larvje dying off in exactly the same manner. 

 They were fed on knot grass, and I attributed my failure to the food. 

 — O. C. GoLDTHWAiTE, Leyton. October I'jth, 1890. 



Plusia festuc^ near Bolton. — This species has been taken here 

 for many years, formerly in great numbers, but has been so closely 

 sought after of late that it is now comparatively rare. I am convinced 

 that it is not double-brooded here. The larvae hybernate when very 

 young, beginning to feed again in April, as soon as the Iris makes its 

 appearance. Emergence goes on for some time when the imagines 

 once begin to appear. Cehzna haivortldi has been plentiful on our 

 moors this September.— J. Grime, 217, Halliwell Road, Bolton. 

 October, 1890. 



Abundance of Larv^ in the London District. — Around Brock- 

 ley, I have found larvae most abundant. Had I been so disposed, I 

 could have taken hundreds of those of Mamestra hrassiac, M. persicarice, 

 Pelurga comitata, Eupitliecia sidmotata, Hadena chenopodii, Mania iypica, 

 Arctia caia, A. tubricipeda, A. menthastri, etc. — H. J. Turner, 13, 

 Drakefell Road, Hatcham, S.E. October, 1890. 



Agrotis pyrophila in Aberdeenshire. — I am glad to see that 

 Agrotis pyrophila has occurred at Portland. I did not see Lieut. 

 Brown's examples, but, as I have already got the species from him, I 

 have been able to compare with Aberdeen ones, and I find the Portland 

 pyrophila are generally larger, lighter in colour, and more distinctly 

 marked than ours. A few, which I bred, are particularly darker. This 

 species is distributed all over Aberdeenshire, and appeared in fair 

 numbers this year. I get them at sugar, but more often at flowers : — 

 the yellow iris, thistles, dock, reed, ragwort, and in gardens, sweet- 

 william being particularly attractive. They need thorough searching, 

 and, as the best localities are wild rough places, and dark windy nights 

 are best, one has to be very careful. It is a most uncertain insect, 

 some nights appearing in fair numbers, but generally, singly, and with 

 miles between them. They have also an odd habit of crawling below 

 bark and loose planks on palings and outhouses ; in fact, immediately 

 the light is put upon them, they make a dive to hide, if they are not 

 too busy with the sweets. I placed about twenty under muslin upon 

 growing plants, to try and get ova. Unfortunately, only one $ 

 deposited, and then, only a very few ova. In my absence from home, 

 my brother thought he could succeed where I had failed, and he 

 obtained a few more ova, by the rough and ready method of squeezing 

 their abdomens, and more curious still, all have hatched, and are 

 feeding on dock and knot grass. The ovum is yellowish in colour 

 when newly deposited, and about the size of and very similar to that of 

 Triphccna orbona, but it gets dark before the larva emerges. The 

 latter is dark green, very like that of Noctua augur, but more sluggish. 

 If collectors were to search about the roots of grass, in the localities 

 where the imago is to be got, I have no doubt they would turn up the 

 larvae. The best time, I think, is about the beginning of May, and the 

 search must be conducted after dusk. — W. Reid, Pitcaple, Aberdeen. 

 October, 1890. 



