NOTES ON COLLECTING. 148 



Rannook at Easter. — I spent Easter week at Rannock, when 

 insects wore much scarcer than they were last year at the same time. 

 Sallows produced Taeniocampa imtabili^ in variety, T. ijot/nca, some 

 very nice forms, T. populeti was somewhat scarcer. Calocampa 

 vt'tmta and C. exnleta were in swarms on the tree-trunks at night. 

 LobopJtora carpinata (lobidafa) was uncommon ; very few of the 

 banded forms occurred, however, whilst I was there. Asteruscopiis nuhe- 

 culosm was rare. — J. J. F. X. King, F.E.S., 207, Sauchiehall Street, 

 Glasgow. Jnhj, 1896. 



A DAY AT Swansea. — I had one day in the woods here during the 

 last week in April, and took Lophnpten/x camelina (male and female, 

 in copula, from which I obtained ova). Leiocampa dictacoides, 

 Tephrnda comonoria, T. piinctidata (common), Nola cristulalis, 

 Teplnrma hUtortata {crepu>icularia) , T. vrepmcidaria {biumhdaria), 

 Acirotix cinerea, Lobophora viretata, Siienia lunaria, Cidaria silaceata, 

 Hem.cfni)Jiila ahvuptaria, Paran/e mci/acra, Brenthis cuplirosync, Pul>/o)ii- 

 ynatus astrarcJte, as well as Aciptilia miemdacti/la, feeding on Eupa- 

 torium cannabinum. — (Major) R. B. Robertson, Royal Arsenal, Swan- 

 sea. Jidy, 1896. 



Time of oviposition of Dejias coryli. — On May 17th I saw a 

 female D. con/li ovipositing on a small beech bush, about 9 p.m. — 

 A. F. Bayne." Jul;/, 1896. 



Capture of Xylomiges conspicillaris at Castle Moreton. — I 

 had the good fortune to capture a beautiful specimen of Xtjlnmujes 

 cnnspivillans, on the evening of April 20th, off plum blossom. — (Rev.) 

 E. C. Dobree Fox, M.A., Castle Moreton Vicarage, Tewkesbury. 

 July, 1896. 



Effkct of the unusual May weather. — The extraordinary weather 

 we have experienced has rendered collecting here quite unusual in 

 many Avays. Larva?, which should normally be beaten half -grown 

 during the latter part of May, were either full-grown or had already 

 pupated, e. y., Asteroficopm Rphinx, vihich-l have tried to procure for 

 May correspondents, owing to starting too late, I have found very 

 scarce. Zephyru!< (juercus, too, were full-fed much earlier than usual. 

 Many species, ordinarily very scarce here, have been comparatively 

 common, e.y., Selenia lunaria, Kurymcne dolnbraria, Drepana culfraria, 

 Lobophora viretata. Callophrys rtibi was very scarce, and during the 

 first week of June, Litluma mesomella was very abundant. — E, F. 

 Studd, M.A., B C.L., F.E.S., Oxton. July, 1896. 



Methylated spirit versus rum. — At such times as I have sugared, 

 common Noctuides have been in abundance, and most conspicuous of 

 these are remarkable aberrations of Tryphaena pronuba. I was rather 

 surprised to find on the night of June 12th, both Panayra pctraria and 

 Hyhijdnla prasinana at the sugar, which was well scented with 

 methylated spirit. I have tried it in the place of rum, but I cannot 

 say I like it as well, from the fact that directly the light is thrown on 

 the sugar the insects fly off, a habit not usual with rum, otherwise, I 

 think spirit is more attractive. — E. R. Bush, 71, Strathmore Street, 

 Perth, N.B. Jidy, 1896. 



Abundance of Aphodius sordidus. — Enclosed I send you a few 

 beetles. I am not very curious about Coleoptera, but I was out on the 

 night of June 18th, with the net for a few hours, when, just at dusk, I 

 came across one of the most extraordinary entomological sights I ever 



