52 THE ENTOMOLOGIST^S RECORD. 



the shorter growth, and may be easily fouud when searched for with a 

 good lantern. In this way, Triphiena fimbria may be best obtained, 

 with others of the genus, and most of the genus Noctua. Later on in 

 the year, when larvse are nearly full-fed, the work should be deferred 

 till nearer midnight, when many good species may be beaten from 

 sallow and birch, in numbers, including Aplecta tincta, Noctua ditra- 

 pezium, etc. — A. J. Hodges. 



Larva of Calamia lutosa. — The following extract from my diary 

 dated July 21st, 1881, concerning C. lutosa may interest some of your 

 readers. Discovered larvfB of this species feeding in roots of Arundo 

 phragmites ; should be looked for early in July ; pujiee, end of July to 

 middle of August ; larva feeds very deep in the roots, but when about 

 to change, leaves the plant and pupates in the soil, two or three inches 

 from the surface. The presence of the larva may be readily detected 

 from the bleached appearance of the plants which have been attacked ; 

 the pupa, however, will be much more easily found than the larva, for 

 which I have dug as deeply as a foot and then not reached it. — 

 J. Gardner, Hartlepool. 



Labelling. — While upon the subject of arranging and labelling, 

 and with special reference to " locality data," we must call attention 

 to an excellent suggestion received some time ago from Mr. A. J. 

 Johnson of Birmingham, and which we regret want of space compels 

 us now to summarise only. The main feature is, to secure a uniform 

 system for collectors throughout the United Kingdom, by compiling 

 and publishing a map divided into squares, each representing any 

 small number of square miles that may be found most practicable ; 

 but all to be of equal size and numbered consecutively ; or should this 

 involve too high numbers for convenience, the map may be first 

 divided into main sections to be indicated by different colours, and 

 either correspondiug with counties or not, as may be deemed most 

 convenient ; the numbers in each section could then commence at No. 

 1, and would be readily distinguishable by the colour. The label to 

 be affixed to each specimen would correspond, firstly, in colour, to the 

 section of map ; and secondly, in number, to the smaller square in 

 which it has been captured. Our correspondent further suggests that 

 the labels could be issued in varying, easily distinguishable shapes, 

 such as square, round, triangulai*, etc., which could be employed to 

 indicate the state (whether larva, imago, etc.) in which the capture had 

 been affected ; and further, a printed capital letter upon the label 

 could be the easily understood indication of the method of capture ; 

 thus " S " should refer to captures at " sugar," etc. 



These labels (with the date of capture added) would then consti- 

 tute a complete history of the field-work connected with each 

 individual specimen, and, if thoroughly carried out, would be as 

 satisfactory and complete a method as the older one of numbering the 

 specimen only, and entering full data in one's own diary, with the 

 additional advantage, that insects would as readily convey their history 

 to all those interested, as to the original captor. 



It is hardly necessary to point out the obvious difficulties attending 

 the adoption of the above useful suggestion, the principal one of which 

 would be the extreme difficulty of inducing lepidopterists to combine 

 in adopting any universal system even of labelling ; as has been proved 

 in the far more important question of nomenclature and classification ; 



