NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 157 



batches), of very small ones, still under tlieir winter web, and along 

 with them, some cocoons of their enemy, one of the ichneumons. 

 From this fact, it appears as though the larv;:e were stung during their 

 early days last fall. Is it usual for larvae feeding under webs to be 

 stung while thus screened ? It is acknowledged that artemis is highlj'^ 

 liable to be stung ; but one would think this liability really commences 

 when they leave their winter retreat and lie in the open, thus being 

 very exposed to attack. I send a few that you may see them. — G. A. 

 Birkenhead, Downs View, Penarth, near Cardiff. April 4:th, 1893. — 

 [We sent the cocoons to Mr. Bignell of Stonehouse, Plymouth, and he 

 writes concerning them : — " I have not the slightest doubt that the 

 Apanteles cocoons, formed by the parasite of artemis emerged from 

 their host this spring. The species, from the appearance of the cocoon, 

 is a new parasite on this larva ; it does not resemble any of the three 

 species ah-eady obtained from artemis ; those obtained, contain much 

 more silk and are larger ; these have the look of being half -starved. 

 The thi'ee species which have already been bred from this species are : — 

 Apanteles bignellii, ' cocoons enclosed in a common web of cottony 

 texture ' (cocoons in a ball of flossy silk) ; A. sj)nrius in cocoons of white 

 silk ; and A. zygienarnm, in cocoons of yellow silk. These two are like 

 miniature cocoons of the mulberry silk- worm, with plenty of floss silk, 

 as seen in the last mentioned. I have had artemis from Scotland, and 

 have found, when they are abundant, that nine-tenths are ichneumoned. 

 I strongly suspect that will be the end of those not yet showing it 

 (7/4/93)."~Ed.]. 



Cannibal hairy caterpillars. — I have missed Arctia caja at times, 

 in an unaccountable way from my cages, but never detected any canni- 

 balistic propensities amongst the larvae. But when freshly turned to 

 jDupa, before the tender skin has emitted the varnishing liquid, and colour 

 is not as yet set up, I have noticed they are quite a toothsome delicacy. 

 The enveloping cocoon is cut open, and the juices sucked from the pupa 

 by any neighbouring larvjB, sometimes more than one feeding in concert. 

 —Sydney Webb, Dover. April 2Uh, 1893. 



Preserving ova. — Can anyone give me any information as to pre- 

 serving the colour of ova ? ; also, the best way of killing and mounting 

 the same ? I mount with gum tragacanth on white cards, but should 

 be pleased to have any hints on the subject. — Frank Bouskell, Lans- 

 downe Eoad, Stoneygate, Leicester. 



Iractical hints. 



Sugaring. — It would be well for our collectors to l)ear in mind the 

 phenomenal number of insects attracted last year at the end of May. 

 Many Noctu^ are already well out, and I have heard of several 

 successful " sugaring " expeditions already. In a season like the 

 present, when June insects are now getting well out, and are a month 

 in advance, it is high time the collector was on the warpath, if he is to 

 get the early NocTti^. — J. W. Tutt. May, 3 893. 



The Month. — This is the gi-eat day beating month for larva?. Most 

 of the hybernated larva? are now full-fed, and are, therefore, liitle 



