NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 19 



wrote a short criticism on these two insects as British species. Mr. 

 (j-regson came down on my suggestions in his usual manner, but he 

 seems to have allowed his memory to lead him astray. Surely, of a 1 

 men, those who dabble in science, should thoroughly weigh their facts 

 before writing them. — Ed.] 



Vanessa atalanta attracted by the Sap of Elm. — Referring to 

 Mr. Still's note in last month's Record, I have no recollection of ever 

 observing V. atalanta at sugar, but I well remember, some fourteen 

 years ago, whilst I was living at WJtham in Essex, as I was walking along 

 a lane just on the outside of the town, observing a large number of 

 V. atalanta flying about the lane in front of me, and their mode of flight 

 suggested to me that they had been disturbed in some way. I therefore 

 halted and watched them for a few minutes, as I felt fairly certain if they 

 had been disturbed they would, in a very short time, return to the same 

 spot. I had not to wait long before I saw some of them returning to an 

 elm tree, close to where I was standing. I at once got over the hedge 

 into the meadow, and on approaching the tree, I saw a sight I shall ever 

 recollect. The tree was a fair-sized elm, and from the trunk sap was 

 exuding in several places and running down the tree. Upon this sap 

 there were dozens of V. atalanta ; the tree was completely covered with 

 them. The sun was shining full upon them, and as their wings waved 

 up and down, the picture was an exceedingly pretty one. I watched 

 them a short time, and then with a smart tap on the low^er part of the 

 trunk with my stick, sent them all into the air again. They flew round 

 about the tree for a few minutes in a terribly disturbed state, eventually 

 returning to the tree for the juices of the sap. — AV. D. Cansdale, 

 London Road, Forest Hill, S.E. March 28///, 189 1. 



Ditula hartmanniana. — I should like to make an inquiry respecting 

 this species, which Mr. Fenn informs me is taken commonly all round 

 London. Although I have worked the London district a good deal, I 

 have not yet been successful in taking it commonly. The only locality 

 in which I have found it is Tottenham, and there very sparingly (6 being 

 a good afternoon's work). I find it difficult to box, being very wary, 

 and the tree must be approached cautiously or the insect will go before 

 you get the chance to box it. I have only found it resting on willow 

 trunks in the afternoon, and although I have worked for it at dusk, I 

 have never taken it on the wing. I should be much obliged if any one 

 can give me information about the larva. Does it feed at night? — A. 

 J. Croker, 156, Tennison Road, South Norwood. March 20th, 1891. 



Observations on Species of T/Eniocaripid^. — T. munda, I find, 

 prefers the sugar bait before the sallow catkins. Mr. Fenn, on page 342 

 of the Record, makes the same observation. I remember on one 

 favourable evening, my friend Mr. Turner and myself were working at 

 the sallows, and plenty of 7. criida, T.stabilis, T. gothica, and T. instabilis 

 were taken, but only one T. munda ; yet other entomologists, working 

 the same locality, were taking T. munda freely from the sugar, although 

 they were working so close as to enable us to see their lanterns. The 

 $ and 5 plants of the tall sallows, appear to be equally productive at 

 Wimbledon. The tall species appear to be preferred by cruda, stabilis, 

 and instabilis, the dwarf sallows ^xo^Mcmg gothica, gracilis, and rubricosa. 

 I have visited the same trees for a fortnight before they have become 

 unproductive. The dwarf sallows, at this time of the year, will well 



