l32 THE entomologist's record. 



and have also dug the pupa?, which were just below the surface of the 

 ground. 



The larvae are most variable in their colour ; some are bright 

 green, others in their last two skins vary from green to brown, whilst 

 others are quite purple in colour. They seem to be fairly easy to rear, 

 the most dangerous periods being the first and last moults. I had 

 nearly one hundred larvte, but lost a great many through feeding them 

 on food that was too green and succulent, as they got diarrhcea and 

 turned almost to water. They feed exclusively on the pine, beginning 

 on the top of the firs and eating downwards to the stalk. In confine- 

 ment they appear to eat both night and day. 



The moth appears in June (the earliest taken was on June 8th), 

 and seems to go on until the end of July, although worn specimens 

 may be taken in August. It is very sluggish in the day-time, 

 when it sits on the trunks of the fir trees and will not fly even 

 when moved off the trunk, but drops into a box held underneath 

 it. I have only known one specimen to fly away when disturbed. 

 I have several pupje, and intend next year to take a female into the 

 woods and see if the males will assemble late at night. 



Sphinx pinastri as a British Insect. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



It has often been stated that, to a very great extent, pines have been 

 introduced into England, and that, as a result, several of the pine-feeding 

 species of Lepidoptera now commonly found, could not have been really 

 indigenous, but must have been imported Avith the trees. Like the 

 trees, however, many of the pine-feeding insects have grown and 

 prospered, and are noAv among the commonest British species. 



One pine-feeding species of Lepidoptera, however, troubles even 

 yet the entomological conscience. This is Sjihin.r pinastri. This 

 large beautiful insect is, in its imago state, so readily seen near the roots 

 of the pine that it is altogether impossible for keen collectors to overlook 

 it in the districts which they so carefully work ; yet, until about a dozen or 

 fifteen years ago, the right of this species to be considered British rested 

 on the most slender authority, and this, in spite of the fact that it is 

 probably the most abundant Sphinx moth in all the pine forests of 

 Europe. 



Donovan, as far back as 1800, refers to a " traditionary report " of 

 -S'. pina.stri being British, the locality from whence the specimens 

 came being the gloriously vague one of " Scotland." His next remark 

 gives food for reflection, that "as it is generally admitted on that 

 (traditionary) authority to a place in the cabinets of English insects," 

 he cannot refrain from giving it a place in his Natural History af 

 Jiritis/i Insrrts. Haworth, in 1803, mentions that it occurs in " the 

 month of June," and that it is to be " found on the trunks of pines," 

 and is taken " near London, very rarely." Stephens, in 1828, gets 

 nearer, for he mentions "one specimen taken in June, near Colney 

 Hatch Wood, about 30 years ago, and a second in the neighbourhood of 

 Esher." This takes us back to Haworth's time, and probably affords the 

 clue as to the amount of his (Haworth's) information about this species. 

 Stephens, however, says that at " Kivelston Wood, near Edinburgh, 



