344 THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S RECORD. 



have, during the last week, captured imagines of hastiana with those of 

 Gracilaria stramineella and numbers of Depressarice. Hastiana may lay 

 its eggs in the autumn, but I think it probable they are laid after 

 hybernation, and that there is only one brood, although it is commonly 

 supposed there are two. — T. Baxter, St. Anne's-on-Sea, Preston. 

 Febritary, 1891. [Although I have had large quantities of willow and 

 sallow buds, I have never had early specimens of P. hastiana. — Ed.] 



Crambus myellus. — This certainly should become common. We 

 can scarcely recognise a "grass moth" being otherwise, though C. 

 alpinellus is very local, and C. verelitis, hitherto, has only been " fluked." 

 The first British specimen of C. myelins was captured, sitting on a 

 grass culm in a pouring rain (and another seen) by Mr. N. Brown, then 

 curator to Mr. Wilson Saunders, on a hill side about three hours' walk 

 from Aberdeen, and brought to me to identify the following week as a 

 doubtful C. pinetellus. From the British Museum collection, I quickly 

 ascertained its name, and it was exhibited at the Linnsean and London 

 Entomological Societies by Mr. Saunders' son, as new to Britain. 

 Occasionally the insect has been met with since (on one date, I think, 

 nearly twenty were taken), and these captures have been spread over so 

 many years, that the insect must be persistent, not sporadic. I heartily 

 congratulate Mr. Reid upon getting it so near home. He will doubt- 

 less render a good account of it in the future. — Sydney Webb, Dover. 

 November 2%tli, 1890. 



I am much obliged to Mr. Webb for his note upon C. myellus. I 

 do not know of any hills within three hours' walk of Aberdeen, but of 

 course this depends upon what one considers a hill. In any case, the 

 locality must either be west or south-west from Aberdeen. The place, 

 where my recorded specimen {afite, p. 215) was obtained, is twenty-two 

 miles from Aberdeen, and I now find it has been taken there three 

 years in succession. I have just found one among my series of 

 Crambus pinetellus, taken by myself two years ago. The real fact is, 

 no one hereabouts pays the slightest attention to the Micros. — W. Reid, 

 Pitcaple. December, 1890. 



Killing Lepidoptera. — As one who has tried different ways of 

 killing insects, I certainly must give the palm to the use of ammonia. 

 The ammonia of use to us, the ordinary chemists do not seem to 

 retail. The most concentrated must alone be used, viz., that labelled 

 •880 If used properly, the universal opinion must be that it is the 

 surest, cleanest, most economical and effectual agent one can expect to 

 get. My general method of using it is the following. A large tin, say 

 a biscuit tin, with a closely fitting lid is procured. Then I cut a piece 

 of perforated zinc to fit the bottom, and turn one corner up to facilitate 

 removal. On the bottom of the tin, I place some cotton wool to 

 absorb the ammonia. Supposing I have a number of specimens to kill, 

 I first tilt the lids of all the boxes, pour, say a couple of teaspoonsful or 

 thereabout of the strong ammonia on the wool, and then rapitlly replace 

 the perforated zinc and pile in the boxes. The tin should then be put 

 in a cool place to prevent the too rapid evaporation. I generally leave 

 mine in till morning, if I kill at night ; till evening, if I kill in the 

 morning. Those who use chip or glass bottomed boxes will find that 

 ammonia fumes somewhat " interfere with their structure," and will 

 have to strengthen them with thin strips of linen and shoemakers' 



