NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC, 67 



as abundant as ever; so I think Mr. Reid may hope to see Epunda 

 nigra and E. lutulenta common again at Pitcaple. By the way, whatever 

 may be the reason for the disappearance and reappearance of so many 

 insects — is there any truth in that old story that Melitcea aurmia moves 

 its quarters systematically ? A colony occurred on a large common here 

 for years, and, when I first saw them, they were at the south-west side 

 of the common, but each year they got further and further across it, till 

 at last they were in the north-east corner only, and now they are gone 

 altogether. Should I find them by looking still further to the north- 

 east? The country does not look likely, as it is under cultivation. — 

 W. Holland, Reading. April ^rd, 189 1. 



Life- History of Gonophora derasa. — After reading the account 

 {Record, vol. i., p. 348), about the larva of Gonophora derasa 

 from Mr. Geo. Elson, I thought, perhaps, he might be glad to know 

 that for the last three or four years, in the first week in October, I 

 have beaten the larvae of derasa from SpircEa uhnaria (meadow- 

 . sweet). I have never seen this plant mentioned in any book as its 

 foodplant. The larvce always hide amongst the leaves in the day 

 time. I have noticed the larvae of many Nocxu^ feed at night and 

 go to the same place day after day to hide.— W. J. Cross, Ely. 

 April ^tii, 1 89 1. 



Killing Lepidoptera. — It has occurred to me that boxes made 

 with perforated cardboard lids and bottoms would be at least as useful 

 as those made with glass tops, and I should think they might be 

 made at even a cheaper rate. I think indeed they would be more 

 useful, because the insects in them could be killed as described by 

 Mr. Turner in your March number (p. 344), without the trouble of 

 tilting the lids. The boxes would of course be better laid on their 

 sides in the tin. — R. D. Postans. 



I can quite corroborate Mr. Cutts' remark (vol. i., p. 345) on the use of 

 cyanide for killing lepidoptera. I once tried ammonia myself for a short 

 time, but could not be satisfied with its effects on the wings of some 

 species.' 1 have used cyanide now for some years, and have never 

 experienced any difficulty in setting insects killed by this agency, as 

 I have invariably left them in the bottle for a couple of days before 

 proceeding to pin them. After this interval of time lepidoptera are 

 always to be found beautifully relaxed. If the insects are not kept in 

 the bottle as long as this, they must be set within an hour of death ; 

 otherwise, I admit, the use of cyanide is most disappointing. — J. E. 

 Tarbat, Reading. March 2\th, 1891. 



I quite agree with Mr. Turner {Record, vol. i., p. 344) that the 

 easiest and best agent for killing is "880 ammonia, but I think I have 

 a more perfect apparatus for using it than he describes. I have a 

 cylindrical tin made for me with a lid at both ends, and one end — 

 the bottom — has in addition a false bottom of perforated zinc, about 

 three-quarters of an inch up. I put the boxes of moths in first, and, 

 having shut the lid, take off the iDottom lid and pour a little ammonia 

 on a piece of sponge and close it again without losing any of the fumes. 

 Mr. Cutts is certainly right ; it does take the colour out of some 

 species, especially green and some rich purples and blacks, e.g., Plusia 

 orichalcea and Penthina fuligana {carbonana). Such species I should 

 not think of putting into ammonia — the smaller insects, such as the 



