64 THE entomologist's record. 



takes being Nodua stigmatica, Agrotis ravida and Xanthia aurago. 

 Common species were in abundance, Butterflies were comparatively 

 scarce, Hesperia covwia occurred very sparingly this past season, 

 whilst Lyccena corydon failed to appear at all close to Chinnor. I, how- 

 ever, found it by thousands a few miles off, and noticed that the 

 females outnumbered the males by at least 20 to i. "Assembling" 

 was going on vigorously, but the usual case was reversed. There the 

 males attracted the females. It was amusing to see a male paired ; 

 whilst around on the grass-stems were scores of females, at rest, with 

 their bodies in an unmistakably '' calling " attitude. My two lads and 

 my wife, who were with me, also remarked this singular phenomena, 

 and certainly during a long entomological experience at home and 

 abroad, I had never seen such a thing before. I suppose the scarcity 

 of males obliged the females to search for partners. — A. J. Spiller, 

 Chinnor. February 6th, 1892. 



Breeding Insects. — Having been fairly successful during the last 

 two seasons in rearing larvae by the sleeving method, a few notes on 

 that subject may not be out of place. I have tried several different 

 plans with the object of saving time in feeding, etc., but have dis- 

 carded all in favour of sleeving. Some years ago I made several 

 large boxes, averaging three feet square, with perforated zinc sides and 

 sliding tops, leaving the bottom quite open. These were then placed 

 on some good soil, with young trees planted inside. However, they 

 turned out a grand failure — in one case I lost over two dozen Chcero- 

 cmnpa elpeuor through moles. The greatest drawback to this plan were 

 the aphides (green fly), which, in a very short time, swarmed, and as 

 they could not be fumigated or otherwise destroyed without injury to 

 the larvas, the plan had to be given up. The sleeves are best made of 

 black book muslin, which is less conspicuous than white, besides look- 

 ing moderately clean until finished with. I generally put the ova out 

 about a fortnight before they are due to hatch, sometimes as many as 

 300 in a sleeve a foot long. When selecting a branch a good look-out 

 must be kept for earwigs or green fly, — a smart shake will dislodge the 

 former, but if there be much fly, a fresh branch should be taken, as 

 it will cause a great deal of trouble afterwards to change the sleeve, 

 especially when the larvae are in the young stages. If the branch is 

 bare of foliage the tip can be tied back towards the base. Sometimes 

 it will be found necessary to use several twigs together, on account of 

 insufficient foliage, in which case it is important to have them well 

 wrapped with fine string at the base previous to putting on the sleeve, 

 otherwise very young larvse will escape between the adjoining twigs. 

 The best way to fasten the end overlapping the branch is to give it a 

 twist previous to tying. When a change is required cut the sleeve right 

 off and take its contents under cover, open the bottom and pull the 

 branch out on a clean newspaper ; a number of larvae, if small, will be 

 left inside on the muslin. I'hese need not be removed, and then it 

 leaves those only on the twigs to deal with. Pull a twig from the stem, 

 and commencing at the top, clip off the larvae into a jam pot. By 

 taking a small piece at one time, the whole is rapidly gone over and 

 thoroughly examined. Some larvae will be found attached to the 

 thicker wood, and if not disposed to come off readily, it is best to pass 

 a sharp penknife underneath, leaving them on the bark. When 



