336 THE entomologist's record. 



I have tried almost every kind of entomological pin but with no success. 

 White, gilt, and black pins are, as far as my experience g-^es, powerless 

 to prevent the formation (sooner or later), and then " good-bye " to 

 the specimen. It is very disheartening, after working perhaps three or 

 four seasons for a particular species, to find the specimens gradually 

 falling to pieces, thanks to the formation of this wretched stuff ! I have 

 been using Messrs. Tayler's black pins for some seasons, but, good as 

 they are in some respects, they do not prevent the evil in question, I 

 have been in communication with this firm recently, and suggested the 

 use of platinum wire, but they inform me that though this metal is 

 ductile enough to be drawn into the finest wire it is too soft for the 

 purpose, and of course the addition of an alloy would defeat the end in 

 view. Messrs. Stainton, W. H. B. Fletcher, and others all agree with 

 me that "the perfect pin is yet to be found." Will some one turn 

 his attention to the subject and try to find it? — A. Thurnall, 144, 

 Chobham Road, Stratford New Town, E. December 1st, 1890. 



Habits of some of our Spring moths. — ■ Platypteryx uuguiciila 

 is taken in beech woods flying hi the sunshine, or beaten from the trees 

 in dull weather ; P. lacertula and falcula, by shaking and disturbing 

 them from the birch bushes or trees in the afternoon ; Tephrosia pii7icf2i- 

 lata, by searching the trunks of trees among birch ; T. biimdiilaria, on 

 tree trunks in oak, birch, beech, and larch woods ; Pachyeneinia hippo- 

 eastanaria, flying over heath at night ; Phytometrii ccnea, flying in sun- 

 shine on hill sides, or started from the grass in dull weather ; Brephos 

 parthenias, flying about the tops of birch trees on sunny days (I find 

 they are best taken between 4 and 6 p.m., as they fly lower then) ; Tor- 

 tricodes hyemana, flying in the sunshine in oak woods in March ; 

 Ennychia atiguinalis, flying in the sunshine on the chalk hills ; for 

 Micropteryx purpurella I take the " Bignell " tray and beat the young 

 birches ; Semioscopus avellanella, on the twigs of birch at rest ; and Pati- 

 calia lleinvenhoeckella, boxed from flower heads of the daisy, on chalk 

 slopes. Adela fibulella, on the flowers of Veronica chamedrys, last week 

 in May ; best obtained by sweeping flowers on sunny mornings ; 

 Emmelesia albulata, in damp meadows where Rhiuanthiis cristagaUi 

 grows, started from the grass ; best got in the evening or on dull days, 

 when it is readily started from its hiding places. — W. Holland, Reading. 



Note on Hydrcecia petasitis. — Miss Kimber having asked for 

 information as to how to obtain pupre, I will offer a few remarks. To 

 get H. petasitis pup^e, all you need is a good strong trowel, and plenty 

 of patience. I mention this last essential, because, one day, I was out 

 digging with a soft-handed collector, and, by the time he had got eight, 

 he had had enough, at the same time showing me his blistered hands. 

 Where we get them, they are so plentiful as to require no special method 

 of working. We simply settle down and dig indiscriminately the ground 

 before us, for H. petasitis larvce leave the roots and effect a subterranean 

 transformation. In places where they are unknown, and the food-plant 

 occurs, search for affected plants, i.e., plants with a burrow at the crown 

 of the root. Suspicious plants with withered leaves break off, when 

 the burrow made by the larvae is disclosed. Many plants, though, are 

 slug eaten, and the leaves withered from this cause. But those who 

 undertake to get pupae, have a rough job on hand. — J. Collins, War- 

 rington, December, 1890. 



