6 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



intention (on a post card) to the publishers, Messrs. Gurney and Jackson, 

 1, Paternoster Eow. 



Mr. N. M. Kichai'dsou distinguislies between Blabophanenferrugiaelln 

 and a pale form olitained at Portland, which he refers to B. herinyi. 

 He says that Portland specimens have liy the side of ferrugineUa a 

 washy appearance, due to the face of the fore wings being sprinkled with 

 pale ochreous scales ; the fringes are pale ochreous ; the liind wings 

 are paler and their fringes much paler than those oi ferruymella. At 

 the same time he considers it difficult to pronounce heringi a good 

 species, although it may be looked upon as constituting a well-marked 

 local variety. There is, of course, a general tendency for Portland 

 species to run pale (sometimes very pale) and this may be an extreme 

 case, but the matter can certainly ])e left to Mr. Richardson to work 

 out. 



In the December number of Entomological News a photograph of 

 several so-called new Noctilt. are described by Professor Smith. One 

 is our old friend Hydrcecia micacea, who probably Avill feel doubtfully 

 honoured by being considered unknown. 



How strangely fiction tits into fact, and may probably replace it, is 

 Avell illustrated in the September ('92) number of the Canadian Entom- 

 ologist. A species of the Noctu^ described by Walker and identified 

 l)y Mr. Grote as an American species, Eudri/as stce-johannis, is labelled 

 as captured at Horsley Downs ; but since the genus Eudryas is strictly 

 American, Grote suggests that the wrong label " Taken on the Churcli 

 at Horsley DoAvns " got placed on this specimen, and apparently front 

 other instances of " labelling " that have come under our notice in the 

 Museum collection this is not unlikely. An editorial to this states that 

 l)y The Clergy List there is a place called Horselydown in South wark, 

 and that this was proliably the spot where the specimen was captured. 

 Xow in the first jDlace no one would have written Horsley Downs for 

 Horselydown, and in the second place Horsley is a well known entom- 

 ological locality, whilst Horselydown has been covered with bricks and 

 mortar of a very pronounced type for the last three quarters of a 

 century. Mr. Grote's suggestion is much more probable than that of 

 the Editor of our contemporary. 



In the Entomologist, December, 1892, pp. 318-319, there is a record by 

 Mr. A. Cowper Field of Clurfocampn celerio being captured at Brighton. 

 In a letter from the gentleman who records it. written to us, he informs 

 us that lie has Ih'itisli Sphinx pinastri in duplicate " taken in the New 

 Forest and Suffolk ;" British "■Deilepjhihi enphorhiir bred from larvae found 

 in Devonshire on the N<u"th Coast;" also Aptoria cratcvgi " tlie British 

 })arents taken l)y an old friend residing in l>oscombe, in 1886, or 

 ]iossil)ly a year or two earlier near Heme Bay. He has bred them 

 for many seasons past, and kindly furnished me (Mr. Field) with many 

 specimens." We have bred large numbers of foreign s])ecimens. but could 

 never get them to pair, but })robably this hint will enable Mr. Frohawk 

 or Mr, Hawes to fulfil one of the desires of their hearts in butterfly 

 lu-eeding, as Mr. Field will undoul)tedly be able to get them ova or larva^ 

 of British origin. Mr. Field very Avisely observes that " in England, 

 entomologists consider it so much easier to take all you want taken than 

 breed from a few wild parents. This has exterminated P. dispar, 0. 

 dis])ar, P. aris and many otliers : it will do soAvith <S'. pinastri in Suffolk 

 if Lord Kendlesham should publish the locality, as it has already done in 



