234 THE entomologist's llECORD. 



the flowers had been sugared. — N. M. Richardson, B.A., F.E.S., 

 Monte Video, nr. Weymouth. Jcumari/, 1896. 



Distribution of Acidalia humiliata in Britain. — With reference 

 to the habitat of Acidalia humiliata, Mr. Tutt writes, in his notes, 

 re A. dilutaria and its allies {Eiit. Record, p. 126, No. 6, vol. vii.) : 

 " .... at Freshwater, where alone, at present, the species has been 

 found in England." In supposing the insects taken during the last 

 few years to be the only English ones, he is mistaken, as I have in 

 my cabinet, three, which I received in exchange in the seventies. 

 About two years ago I forwarded them to Mr. Hodges, who says there 

 is no doubt as to their being A. humiliata. They are larger than 

 two he sent me, having a wing expanse of 10'", whilst the latter 

 measure only 8*5 '". Unfortunately I have not the label for the 

 insects, and cannot find an entry of them in my diary, owing pro- 

 bably to the pressure of professional engagements at the time ; but 

 we used to consider A. interjectaria, as it was then called, by no means 

 uncommon, and included under that name specimens both with and 

 without the brick-red costa. I am sure my insects did not come 

 from Freshwater, as I used to collect there at that time, and could 

 not fail to have remembered the particulars of any from a locality I 

 knew so well, and I am equally certain they were received in exchange 

 as English from some reliable correspondent. I have no doubt many 

 other specimens will be found, sooner or later, in the collections of 

 the sixties and seventies ; whilst some may have been scattered, and 

 remain as yet unrecognised in comparatively recent ones. — W^ S. 

 Riding, M.D., F.E.S.,^ Buckerell. Decemher 2ith, 1895. 



Eaely appearance of Phigalia fed aria. — I was at my favourite 

 hunting ground yesterday, and found several Phii/alia pcdaria, 

 evidently just freshly emerged, at the base of oak trees. Is this not 

 very early ? On looking through the lu'cord, 1 could find no notice 

 of the species occurring before January 31st. — L. S. Brady, 17, Filey 

 Street, Sheffield. Jannan/ Vdth, 1896. 



Emergence of Plusia gamma in December. — -I was very much 

 surprised last Sunday, on looking into my breeding-cages, to find 

 that a specimen of Plmia (/aiiima had emerged. This seems to me 

 very extraordinary, as the cage was kept in an exceptionally cold 

 room.- — A. Adie Dalglish, Glasgow. Decemher llf/(, 1895. [What 

 else was the P. (lainma to do, since it is not known to hybernate as a 

 pupa, or, in fact, to hybernate at all in Britain ? Does this species 

 not, like CoUa-'i ediisa, attempt to be consecutively brooded all the year, 

 as it is in its sub-tropical haunts, and thus become annually exter- 

 minated here? — Ed.] 



Asteroscopus sphinx. — Referring to my note (ante, p. 157), I may 

 add that the total number of males taken between November 6th and 

 November 28th, in two illuminated traps, set within a few hundred 

 yards of each other in the same wood, was 207, besides the bi-sexual 

 one there referred to. I obtained no females this year. Last year I 

 took about the same number of males and two females. I beat 

 several larvae this year from apple and oak, principally the former, the 

 leaves of which they seem to prefer to any other food, except other 

 larvre (of their own species or any other), which they will eat directly. 

 They all throve until full-fed, and then died oft", very few pupating, and 

 of these none emerged, but all died. — E. F. Studd, M.A., B.C.L., 

 F.E.S., Oxton. December, 1895. 



