NOTES ON COLLECTING. 47 



broom, larvae fell into the umbrella. This once favoured spot, I 

 believe, was totally destroyed by fire. — A. W. Mera, 77, Capel Road, 

 Forest Gate, E. 



Query as to the hybernation of Pyrameis atalanta. — I see, in 

 looking through your British Butterflies, p. 3G0, that you say that 

 Pyrameis atalanta hybernates in hollow trees, etc. Do you know of 

 any authentic record of this species hybernating? I feel certain myself 

 that this insect does not survive the winter in this country in any 

 stage, and is exactly the same as Pyrameis cardui in its habits and 

 life-history (see Knt. Record, vii., pp. 110-111). The remarks on this 

 subject (op. tit., viii., pp. 4, 169, 270) may be referred to as supporting 

 this view. — H. W. Head, Scarborough. January 5th, 1907. [We 

 have no first-hand information such as is desired, and should be 

 greatly obliged to our readers for any notes on the subject. —Ed.] 



Parasitism of larv.& of Smerinthus ocellata, Amorpha populi, 

 and Cerura vinula. — During the summer of last year I captured 

 about fifty larvae of Smerinthus ocellata, with others of Amorpha populi 

 and other species. A peculiar fact regarding those of Smerinthus 

 ocellata was that only four safely pupated, the others being ichneu- 

 moned. The ichneumons were of the small species which, as the larva 

 approaches the fullfed state, works its way through the skin and there 

 spins its cocoon, of a brown substance, and pupates therein. It 

 appeared remarkable, however, that hardly any of the larvae of 

 Amorpha populi were affected by ichneumons, although many were 

 captured at the same time and place as those of Smerinthus ocellata. 

 I also took larvae of Centra vinula, and I noticed that, on the back of 

 the head, were several small black specks (evidently eggs of some 

 parasite), and, as the larvae fed, these eggs hatched out small grubs, 

 which fed on the body of the larvae till it had cleared all the fleshy 

 part away and left only the skin. Then they left it and began to eat 

 one another, consequently I was not able to rear any of them to 

 maturity. — John G. Hobbs, 31, Alexandra Road, Aldershot, Herts. 

 January lQth, 1907. [Our contributor will find some interesting notes, 

 by Professor E. B. Poulton, on the life-history of the parasite of ('crura 

 vinula in the Trans. Ent. Sue. Land., 1887, pp. 303 et sctj. — Ed.] 



Early appearance of Pieris rapjE. — One of my daughters saw a 

 white butterfly this morning flying about the slopes facing the sea. 

 This is a remarkably early record. It has been a lovely bright warm 

 day, with a gentle breeze from the southwest. The weather was very 

 cold from December 21st until the 30th, when a thaw set in, and since 

 then we have had it quite mild, and several days lately have been 

 bright and warm. — Gervase F. Mathew, R.N., Dovercourt, Essex. 

 January 12th, 1907. 



Njenia typica and Plusia gamma as visitors to sugar. It IS 



curious what different experiences befall different individuals of our 

 fraternity, and I think it is quite worth while for Mr. Colthrup to 

 record his own, even though they only result in evidence of an opposite 

 kind from other sources. Until I saw his note (Ent, lice, vol. xviii., 

 p. 213) and Mr. Millward's (supra, p. 23), I should have imag 

 that an entomologist — or at least a London entomologist — who had 

 never seen Naenia typica at sugar was indeed a rara avis in terra : 

 assuming, of course, that he resorted to sugaring at all at the right 

 time of year, as Mr. Colthrup distinctly indicates. 1 have myself seen 

 it quite freely at sugar in different localities, particularly at Hale End, 



