240 THE entomologist's kecoud 



on Li.hosia dephxfta (Jielveola) {Ent. Rec. vol. iii., p. 212), although I 

 have not had any personal experience in breeding this species from the 

 larva, I have been informed on good authority that it feeds, at all 

 events in the New Forest, on a very minute lichen which grows quite 

 close to the branches and trunks of the trees, and has not the appear- 

 ance of an ordinary lichen, merely giving the tree-trunks and branches 

 a whitish appearance. Unless one could sleeve the larvae on the actual 

 trees on which they are found, I should think it next to an impossibility 

 to rear them successfully (unless, of course, they are full-fed when taken). 

 I always return the larvae to the trees when I beat them out, — Henry 

 A. Hill, 132, Haverstock Hill, Hampstead, N.W. October t^th, 

 1892. 



Entomological Pins. — As it is probable that I may have used 

 more " black-enamelkd " \n\\% than anyone in Britain, with perhaps 

 the single exception of Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, I should like to make 

 a few remaiks on the subject. As regards verdigris, my experience 

 leads me to believe that black pins, although unsatisfactory in some 

 respects, do, undoubtedly, as Mr. Tutt says, " stave off the evil 

 day" longer than gilt or silvered ones. Of course, the only thoroughly 

 satisfactory way of dealing with grease in both macros and micros is 

 to extract it, if possible, from the body, as, even if verdigris is pre- 

 vented, the grease is always liable to spread to the wings, and is an 

 eyesore, even if it only affects the body and thorax. Of black pins, 

 those manufactured by D. F. Tayler & Co., of Birmingham, are far 

 and away the best, though it always makes one sigh to look at those 

 gigantic and unsightly heads, and long for a little spare time in which 

 to decapitate them before using ! Owing to these ugly heads, I never 

 use Tayler's pins where those of Kirby, Beard & Co. can be used 

 safely, as is the case with the larger sizes ; and after trying an enormous 

 number of pins by different makers, I have selected the following as 

 being decidedly the best and most convenient, and always have a large 

 stock of them beside me: — Nos. 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 17 of Kirby, 

 Beard & Co. ; Nos. 15, 19, and 20 of D. F. Tayler & Co. ; No. 18 of 

 E. G. Meek. For the sake of uniformity all my insects are set on 

 black pins, and when in the cabinet they certainly do not catch the 

 eye like gilt or silvered ones. Any one ought easily to be able to 

 decide for himself what size of pin is best for any particular species, 

 though it is well to try to hit the "golden mean " between the two 

 extremes, for there are those who set stout Nocture on No. 14 of 

 Kirby, Beard & Co., whilst on the other hand, the late John Sang used 

 to advocate the use of "as stout a pin as the thorax would take," and 

 I have received from him such small and slender insects as Gehchia 

 letragofielln set on No. 10 black pins ! In reply to Mr. Farren, I think 

 he will find No. 20 of D. F. Tayler & Co.— particularly if he has lime 

 to nip off the heads beforehand— a first-rate pin for all ordinary 

 Nepticulce. The Minuten Nadeln are useful for N. acelosce, and the one 

 or two other species that are equally small ; but on the slightest 

 provocation they rust in the most horrible way, and I have lately lost 

 some dozens of Nepticulce, received from a friend, owing to the lower 

 parts of the pins being entirely destroyed by rust. There is one 

 important point to which I should like to call special attention, as it 

 is often so sadly neglected, I mean the careful selection of each pin 



