NOTES ON LIFE-HISTORIES, LARV/E, ETC. 187 



the end of May, I kept the larvte and pupfe at a high temperature, in 

 order that they might get through their transformations in time. 



T. roboris is placed by Eambur in a distinct genus, Loeosopu, dis- 

 tinguished from Tliecla by the hairless eyes of the imago, and the 

 absence of a tail and the " hair-streak." The markings of the under- 

 side consist of a sub-marginal row of spots on all the Avings, though 

 much fainter on the fore-wings than on the hind-wings, recalling the 

 so-called obsolete varieties of Lijcaena cori/dnn, L. arion and other 

 species, and possibly more nearly approaching the primitive markings 

 of the Lijcacnidae. It occurs in several widely distant places in the 

 south of Europe, but is considered a very local species. — W. E. 

 Nicholson, F.E.S., Lewes. November 22«(/, 1895. 



Pupation of Callimoupha hera. — It seems to me unlikely that the fact 

 that the larva of this species goes beneath the surface to pupate, will 

 account, as suggested by Mr. Fenn, for any failure in rearing it, because 

 it pupates equally Avell if not supplied with any soil, spinning up freely in 

 a slight silken cocoon amongst the food and rubbish in the cages, and 

 I know of large numbers having been reared successfully under such 

 circumstances. It appears, however, to be generally, if not invariably 

 the case, that a somewhat large percentage of moths bred in confine- 

 ment, even from eggs laid by captured females, are more or less slightly 

 crippled in one or both pairs of wings, and although the cause is 

 not easy to understand, I hardly think it can be due to the absence of 

 soil from the cages. — Eustace R. Bankes, M.A., F.E.S., The Rectory, 

 Corfe Castle. NoiH'mber Ut, 1895. 



:p>ractical hints. 



Setting and pinning insects. — Would it not be possible to e.^tab- 

 lish an universal method of "setting" and "pinning" insects? A 

 long series looks so bad when specimens are taken from various col- 

 lectors. Some set on round boards, others again prefer flat ones. 

 With the pinning, again, some like a tilt backwards, others forwards, 

 and so on. I wish something could be done to remedy this. — M. 

 Gunning, M.D., The Mall, Montrose, N.B. Octoher ith, 1895. 



I am glad to see that Dr. Gunning has started the question of 

 pinning. I often get insects, not merely from novices, but from old 

 hands as well, that require re-pinning because the head of the pin has 

 been directed so much backwards ; I can never understand the raisun 

 (Vetre, for the pin at an acute angle with the cabinet cork can never 

 hold well, and is constantly liable to fall and to damage other insects, 

 as well as the one on it. I think the head of the pin should always 

 be directed a little forwards, so that it forms a slightly obtuse for right) 

 angle with the cork, and can be firmly pressed in so as to hold the 

 insect. When some insects are pinned in both ways in a series, 

 much more room is necessarily taken (an important thing in a cabinet), 

 besides the want of uniformity in appearance. As regards height, 

 years ago, I remember, most insects were pinned to rest upon the 

 paper, but that has two great disadvantages, it crushes the insect 

 against the cork and damages it, and if it should grease makes the 

 paper unsightly. Too high setting (like that of foreign insects), to 

 my mind, looks awkward, besides the want of uniformity Avith the 

 usual mode, as in most other things, I think the satisfactory plan is 

 the middle one, where the lowest part of the body of the insect is 



