CURRENT NOTKS. 119 



became unsettled, and no more butterflies were noticed. — A. E. Gibbs, 

 F.E.S., St. Albans. May 1th, 1909. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Notes on the habits ov Leptidia sinapis. — The following note in 

 connection with the habits of this species may be of some interest. On 

 September 5th, 1908, near Vernet-les- Bains, I was watchinga 5 L.sinapix, 

 who was evidently searching for a plant on which to lay an egg. She 

 flew low down amongst the herbage wMth the weak flappy flight peculiar 

 to the species. Before long, she came upon an (>)wbrychis growing at 

 the side of a rock, and after a short examination, settled upon it. At 

 the same instant a passing J" sina/)is saw her, and came fluttering 

 slowly down. She was aware of his presence, for she flapped her 

 wings sharply once or twice but took no further notice of him for the 

 time being, and going on with the business in hand, curved her body 

 to lay an egg on the underside of a leaflet. The male settled on the 

 rock. As soon as the egg was laid she flew oft", the male following. 

 They settled together on a leaf and the male placed himself in front of 

 her with his head towards hers. He uncurled his proboscis and with 

 It struck her left antenna repeatedly, moving his head vigorously the 

 while, and giving jerky flaps with his wings. He would strike her 

 with his proboscis 6 or 8 times in succession, then remain perfectly 

 still for 20 seconds with his proboscis curled, only to begin again. The 

 female kept her wings upright and closed, but, at every stroking tap 

 she received upon her antenna, she responded with a little flap. This 

 went on with great regularity for nearly 5 minutes, the male never 

 once attempting to pair. He then flew away, leaving the female at 

 rest. I have not noticed the curious mode of courtship before, either 

 in the case of Pierids or any other butterflies. The egg laid resembled 

 in surface and colour that of Pifiris rapae, hnt it was larger and tapered 

 towards each end. — H. Powell. F.K.S., 7, Rue Mireille, Hyeres, France. 

 February 5th, 1909. 



(CURRENT NOTES. 



The Carlisle Natural History Society has, for some time, had in 

 hand a large number of papers relating to the local fauna and flora, 

 that have been at various times read before the Society. The Society 

 has now determined to publish these in Trayixactiom, vol. i of which, 

 IS now ill press, including one paper on Lepidoptera (by Mr. G. B. 

 Routledge), and (me on Coleoptera (by Mr. F. H. Day). The price 

 will be 2s. 6d., and the secretaries ask for the support of naturalists 

 by taking copies. Information from Mr. L. E. Hope, The Museum, 

 Tullie House, Carlisle. 



A most important paper (in English) " On the classification of 

 the Dermaptera " has been published in the Oentsch. Ent. Zeitschrift, 

 by Mr. M. Burr. The suggestions are put forward as tentative, and 

 Mr. Burr asks for criticisms, observations, and suggestions. He 

 divides the order up into — 



Fam. 1. Apachyid^ 



f^Subfam. ANAT^LrN.ffl. 



Fam. 3, PyoioicBANiDa - " t^ ^ 



,. Karschiellin^. 



I „ PYGIDICBANINa:. 



