86 THE entomologist's record. 



former " were nothing like " ihe latter, they were not the species at all. 

 There is, however, some variation in the species ; one named var. is 

 called somniculosa, whilst zinckenii also is a variety, lamda being the 

 type.— Ed.] 



Lepidoptera of Sidmouth, S. Devon. — I should like to supplement 

 Mr. Majendie's list of the Lepidoptera of Sidmouth. During the last 

 three years I have been collecting there with my brothers during the 

 month of August and first week in September. Among the Rhopalocera 

 I may mention that the second brood of Leucophasia sinapis was fairly 

 common last year. I took as many as i6 in three-quarters of an 

 hour ; we have only taken 2 Thecla betulce.. Among the Heterocera, 

 larvae of Notodonta ziczac, JV. dictcea^ Ptilodontis palpina, Dicranura 

 bifida, D. furcula. Nocture — Thyatira b a f is (larva), Hydioicia nictitans, 

 Axylia piitris, Tryphcena interject a, Noctua pleda, N. C-nigrum, N. 

 trianguium, Amphipyra pyramidea, A. tragopoginis, Stilbia anoinala. 

 GEOMETRiE — Ennomos fuscantaria, Eupisteria heparata, Acidalia 

 scutulata, A. subsericeata, Lygdia adustafa, Einme/esia affinitata, Ephyra 

 piinctaria, Eupithecia castigata, E. virgaureata, E. rectangulata, Gnophos 

 obicurata, Lobophora sexalisntd and L. hexapterata (larvae), Mclanippe 

 procellata, M. galiata, Coremia propugnata, Cidaria picata, C. ribesiaria, 

 and C. testata. No doubt Mr. Majendie may have omitted some of 

 these insects, because he considered them too common, but I think 

 that it makes a list more complete, when even the commoner species 

 are included. — Clifford Wells, Hurstfield, The Avenue, Gipsy 

 Hill, S.E. 



BoMBYX RUBi. — Does the larv« of this species throw off the black 

 velvety mantle that is worn in October? My nephew, when collecting 

 the larva of Melitcea artemis, brought me a fine full-fed larva, as brown 

 as that of Bombyx querent, which I pronounced it to be. However, I 

 was surprised when a large male rubi emerged. Some fifty years ago I 

 used to breed this species easily. I had at that time a good chance. 

 I put them in a place where the temperature, night and day, was from 

 seventy to eighty degrees, in a large box with plenty of loose moss, and 

 fed them on garden or other roses through November, and when the 

 outside supply failed, continued on plants growing indoors. They fed 

 up well, pupated, and came out generally in January and February. — 



J, B. HODGKINSON, 



Sphinx convolvuli near Croydon. — I captured a magnificent 

 specimen (evidently just emerged), of Spitinx convolvuli at rest, upon a 

 paling, very close to the Old Croydon Racecourse, on my way to sugar 

 in VVickham Wood. — C, Wells, Hurstfield, The Avenue, Gipsy Hill. 



Coleoptera in Herefordshire.— /Vzr/O'A? octomaculata is far from 

 rare in Herefordshire, and in the Black Mountain district it is quite 

 common. Other Longicornia which occur here are Prionus coriarius, 

 A. vioschnta, Calliditim alni, Clytiis arietis and C. mysticus, Astynomuf 

 CBdilis (imported, no doubt), L. nebulostis, P. pilosits, S. scalaris and 

 poptilnea, Rhagiiim bifasciatiim, Toxotus meridianus, Strangalia annata 

 (very common), Z. tomentosa, Grainmoptera tabacicolor and G. rufi- 

 coriiis (both common), and T. prceusta. — E. W. W. Bowell, Staplehurst, 

 Kent. January \Wi, 1892. 



Smoking for Insects. — I think that lepidopterists in this and other 

 districts would do better if they " smoked " for their insects, especially 



