244 THE entomologist's record. 



interest some of your coleopterist readers to hear of an interesting 

 variety of Hippodamia variegata (Coccinella mtdahih':^) tliat lias occurred 

 at Swanage, Dorset, this summer. At first I was inchned to think that 

 it was entirely a new species, but upon close examination with the 

 siaecimens in the British Museum collection, it was pronounced to be 

 only a variety, but of such singular appearance, that I have considered 

 it well worth recording. 



The typical H. variegata, it will be remembered, has six distinct 

 black spots on the latter half of the elytra and one on the scutellum, 

 leaving the front of each elytron devoid of markings. In the variety 

 there are placed, on the space usually vacant, two extra si^.ots between 

 the scutellum and the two usual centre spots close to the suture, and on 

 the shoulders there are also two somewhat smaller spots, making in all 

 thirteen distinct markings, instead of the usual seven. The thorax, 

 moreover, is much darker ; the white marking being almost entirely 

 lost, save for the margin and two very small white dots in the centre. 

 At first sight it might easily be taken for Coccinella 11-punctata, but may 

 be easily distinguished from that species by the position of the spots. 

 I propose to call this variety " enqlehardi." — Bertraji Geo. Eye, 

 2VZ, Upper Richmond Road, Putney, S.W. June 26th, 1893. 



PRACTICAL HINTS. 



The Month. — Now the season for autumn larvi\3 commences, and 

 many may be found that will enjoy their winter sleep in the pupal stage, 

 and these the young collectors should try to obtain. Most of the 

 butterfly larva? are diflicult to find, owing to their marked resemblance 

 to the plant which they feed upon, or to their mode of feeding, usually 

 Cj[uite hidden from the keenest eye. Still some may be found, and they 

 are worth breeding. Many of the "hawk" moths are now feeding, 

 such as Smerinthus popidi, tilice, and Sphinx ligvstri, all of which form 

 interesting objects to the young beginner, and are usually easy to rear. 



The freshly emerged imagines are not so numerous this month, but 

 many of them are local and rare. The rare Lycoina hoitica has been 

 caught occasionally, also Sphinx convolvnli, Deilephila lineata, and Charo- 

 campa celerio, all oi which are rare ; sometimes the energetic collector 

 may also be rewarded with a specimen of Catocala fraxini. 



The great sugar bait should still be *' laid on " plentifully, more 

 especiall}' on the sea coast, where remarkable varieties of Agrotis tritici, 

 cursoria, and others of the same fnmil}', may be obtained. — J. P. Mitch. 



Gather at once a calico bag full of the twisted heads of willow, 

 sallow, or dwarf-sallow, tie up tightly and leave a few days, then turn 

 out into a large close-fitting box. You should breed large numbers of 

 Peronea hastiana. In turning out of the bag see that there are no j^ujiai 

 in the folds.— J. W. Tutt. September, 1893. 



URRENT NOTES. 



Lord Walsingham in the E. 31. M. states that the collections of the 

 late Mr. H. T. Stainton are now in the Natural History Museum and 

 accessible to students. We are pleased to learn that the collection of 



