300 THE entomologist's record, 



were half a dozen of each sex, and therefore certainly L. lapidella. M. 

 Constant had never taken these near Cannes. A few cases of Luffia 

 were taken at Arcachon, July 4th, from these a $ emerged about 

 August 16th, and a $ August 23rd. These were from the fir-tree 

 trunks mland, walls near the sea shore presented only empty cases, 

 emerged probably in late May or early June. The dates, therefore, of 

 these Arcachon L. lapidella, as referring to coast and inland examples, 

 were precisely contrary to those met with by Mr. Luff, in Guernsey. 

 In the case of Arcachon, and, J presume, probably of Guernsey also, 

 " inland" means less than a mile from the sea. There is still much 

 interesting material to be observed in the matter of these Lulfias. — 

 T. A. Chapman, M.D., Betula, Eeigate. September Qth, 1901. 



I found what appeared to be full-grown larvfe of Liiffia lapidella 

 here and there around Torre Pellice, chiefly on the Avails between this 

 town and Villar during the first ten days of August. Unfortunately 

 my box in which they were kept has gone a missing. — J. W. Tutt. 



The cocoon-cutter of Actias luna. — I have just had the oppor- 

 tunity of noting the use of this weapon in the emergence of Actias 

 lima. I can confirm Professor Packard's observations on it in every 

 particular, except one, and that is, that the cutter is not essentially a 

 cutting instrument. The moth exudes abundant softening fluid, so 

 that the threads of silk are no longer fastened together in a solid plate, 

 but are individually separable. The cocoon-cutter, working really very 

 noisily, as Professor Packard notes, teases these out and pulls them 

 down from the end to the side of the cocoon. The force used is 

 quite sufficient to frequently break an erroneously placed thread, but it 

 probably rarely or never cuts one. — T. A. Chapman. 



J^RACTICAL HINTS.* 



Field Work for October. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



1. — Pupae of Acherontia atropos obtained first week in October, 

 placed in a small breeding-cage and laid on about two inches of very 

 damp moss and covered with about an inch of the same material ; 

 the cage then placed in a shady corner of a small humid plant stove, 

 in a temperature ranging from 65°-80°F. ; the moss covering the 

 pupfe sprinkled with water every other day ; imagines emerged at end 

 of third week in splendid condition (Mason). 



2. Collect larvse of Macrotlujlacia ruhi in the first or second week 

 of October ; place in a large empty wine case 30 inches long, 14 inches 

 broad, 20 inches high at back, 15 inches in front, with space in the 

 back for ventilation 15 inches x 5 inches covered with perforated zinc, 

 the whole covered with a close-fitting glazed pane and made secure 

 with hooks. Inside at each end a layer of Spliagnnm moss about six 

 inches deep, none in the centre where the jelly jar stands with food 

 for larvffi so long as wanted ; the latter when full-fed roll in a close 

 ring in the Spha<jnum, remain there till spring when they come up and 



* Practical Hints foe the Field LEriDorxEEisT, recently published, contains 

 1,250 similar liints to these, distributed over every month in the year. Interleaved 

 (for collector's own notes). — Ed. 



