270 THE entomologist's record. 



saw first fresh butterfly on June 30th, and others on July 2nd. On 

 August 27th I was pleased to find a large brood of larvae nearly full 

 fed. I brought in 31, all of whicli pupated about August 30th and 

 81st, except one, which fed a week longer. All were butterflies on 

 September 15th and 16th, save the belated individual which appeared 

 September 22nd. This is the first time I have seen what I believe to 

 be a second brood of io. 



There are always two broods of V, urticcB here. I have in more 

 than one year found larvai late in Sejitember, but could find none this 

 year. On June 25th one flew into our parlour to hybernate. I covered 

 it with a chip box to save it from accident, and have since then looked 

 at it occasionally. It seemed healthy and in unchanged jjosition till 

 the middle of this month, when I found it dead ; probably the heat of 

 the lamjj was too gi-eat for it, as it was near the ceiling. I have 

 often seen urticce in winter quarters at the end of July, but never 

 before in June. What could cause it to " hybernate " at Midsummer ? 



V. cardui larvte became fairly common here towards the end of 

 July. I reared about a dozen, all of which became butterflies between 

 August 9th and 14th. I saw, however, one apparently ipiite fresli on 

 Wednesday last, September 27th. — John Wolfe, Skibbereen. Septem- 

 ber SOth, 1893. 



Iractical hints. 



The Month. — During this month the collector will do well if he 

 indulge in a little larva beating. Many of the late feeders will be 

 nearly if not quite full fed, and ready to assume their chrysalis garb, 

 amongst which may be enumerated Eurymene dolohraria on oak or 

 beech : SeJenia iUustraria on oak, beech, birch, &c. ; Anvphydasis hetnlaria 

 on oak, beech, and birch ; Stanropus fagi on oak, beech, &c. ; Platypteryx 

 falcnla on birch ; P. Jiamula on oak ; P. vjiujutcula on beech, &c. 



The collector must not suppose that his season for imagines has yet 

 closed. This is the great month for ivy bloom, which forms almost as 

 great an attraction to moths as do the sallows in the sjjring. Sometimes 

 the rare Dasycampa rnhigmea falls to the lot of the collector. 



Most of the NocTU^ flock to this banquet, and the intoxicating 

 effect of " Ivy honey dew " makes their cai:)ture easy. All that is 

 necessary is to tap the ivy into the good old " gamp," and quietly box 

 the captures. They certainly can crawl, but seldom or ever fly. Light 

 now yields many of the late species, amongst which may be mentioned 

 Himera pennaria, Hyberma aurantiaria, H. defoUaria, Cheimatobia 

 brumata, C. boreata and Oporabia dilutata. — J. P. Mutch. 



VARIATION. 



Gynandrous Fidonia piniaria. — I had the good fortune this year 

 to capture a hermaphrodite Fidonia piniaria. Both left wings are those 

 of the female and the left antenna is simple ; the right wings those of 

 the male and the antenna pectinated. Have yoii heard of the like in 

 this particular moth ? — W. P. Plaokburne-Maze, Shaw House, New- 

 bury. September 25tk, 1893. 



