NOTES ON COLLECTING. 



161 



spins up in the food-plant. Separate rearing will be found the most 

 successful treatment with all larvae which have this habit. It is 

 troublesome, but the results yield a harvest which will repay the 

 exertion. 



10. — If the larva of A^}ilialia rtarimnua is lighted on, search the 

 birch-tree or bush carefully, as it is often present in batches on the 

 same growth. 



11. — For setting small light-coloured Geometrid imagines, try a 

 dark setting-board, preferably dark green. The correct placing of the 

 wings can be arrived at much more easily than when a white ground 

 is used, as their shape is sharply defined against the colour, even when 

 seen through tracing paper. 



12. — To kill delicate imagines, without producing ('///or, try the 

 following method. Place in the cyanide killing-bottle, and directly 

 the insect is motionless, transfer to a glass pickle- bottle which has a 

 wide mouth, with a large hollow-headed glass stopper. In the hollow 

 head of the stopper have packed a closely rammed filling of bruised 

 young laurel shoots. This is an excellent way of killing all insects, as 

 they never stiften, and will keep relaxed for days. It is most useful 

 at sugar. 



13. — If a breeding-cage in which pupa? are kept be of metal, 

 like a wire-gauze meat safe, an excellent plan for keeping the pup* just 

 sufficiently damp will be found in having a double thickness of stout 

 serge, or old flannel, which has been soaked in water and wrung half 

 dry, tied round it. By this means the atmosphere is kept slightly 

 damp, and provides as close an imitation of natural conditions as is 

 possible. The damping and wringing of the cloth does not take more 

 than a few moments, and can easily be done each day when the cage 

 is examined. There is not the slightest chance of mildew occurring. 

 By PEECY C. EEID, F.E.S. 



14.— At the end of May or beginning of June, Pliaretra iiwni/on- 

 thidis, Arctowi/sch vu/ritae, and Hadena (/la lira come to sugar, but one 

 cannot always depend on a good " sugaring " night, and one often has 

 an afternoon to spare, and (if on the Scotch moors) one may get 

 them all three at rest on the rocks at the lower elevations, especially 

 where the heather has been burnt within the last year or two, and is 

 still small. 



15. — From an elevation of 2.500ft. and upwards Farlnwhia 

 hyperhorea (alpina) and Psodos eoracina {trcjndaria) are flying from June 

 21st, onwards. P. eoracina {trepidaria) flies freely if (which is not 

 always the case) the sun is shining. /'. alpina requires a night of hard 

 cold work to secure. But all through June the pupjie of both can be 

 easily obtained on the tops of hills of sufficient height, by turning 

 over the moss and lichens which cover the ground, especially along the 

 edges of foot- and sheep-paths, and round bare patches. P. alpina 

 pupa? are hardly, however, to be got except in the " even " years, 

 1902, 1904, etc., while those of P. eoracina {trepidaria), thongh generally 

 to be found, abound most in odd years, 1903, 1905, etc. 



:^OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



Distribution of Hemaris fuciforjiis and H. tityus. — If lleinaris 

 fuciformis be the broad -bordered species, and IJ. tityus (buinbylijunnia), 



