40 tHE ENtOMOLOGISX's RECOKt). 



from the eggs recently sent out by Mr. Murray, which seems strange, 

 considering that in a letter written to me last year, he says, " I think 

 it is quite a mistake to say P. niiirocincta is hard to rear, as I think it 

 is very easy ; at least, I do not find it hard." He does not, 

 however, mention the percentage of moths that he usually succeeds in 

 rearing from the egg, which it would be interesting to know. If any 

 of his correspondents have been more fortunate than ourselves, I hoj)e 

 they will kindly give us a few wrinkles as to treatment, etc. — Eustace 

 R. Bankes, M.A., F.E.S., The Rectory, Corfe Castle. Dec. Ibth, 1896. 

 Plusia festuc.e double-brooded. — Pliisiafestucae is so scarce about 

 here, that we have not many opportunities of recording its capture, 

 but the solitary specimen I have taken flew into a lighted room on the 

 8rd of September last. It was a perfect specimen, and apparently 

 quite freshly emerged. — W. W. Esaji, Eagle House, St. Leonard's. 



The p.\ktial double-broodedness of Plusia festuc^. — As regards 

 the partial double-broodedness of Plusia festucae, I have never come 

 across it except in the North of Ireland. On reference to my notes, 

 I find that, in 1894, June 26th was the earliest date of capture. Ova 

 were deposited on the 28th, hatched on July Ith. One larva only fed 

 up quickly, producing an imago in August, the remainder hybernated, 

 half the larvje being sleeved on growing Iris in an outhouse, the other 

 half sleeved on Iris in the open woods. On June 4th, 1895, I took 

 both larviB and cocoons at large, and mine, in both sleeves, had partly 

 pupated. On June 14th, the first imago appeared, and they continued 

 to emerge from the three batches throughout that month. I see also 

 that, on June 27th, I took the insect in good condition at large. Ova 

 were again obtained, with a precisely similar result, except that two fed 

 up and emerged, as against one the previous year. The insects and 

 larviB were obtained in swampy ground round the margin of a large 

 pond, and both light and dark forms occurred, the latter preponderating 

 largely. — (Colonel) Chas. E. Partridge, 20, Hornsey Rise Gardens. 



British and foreign specimens. — Some years ago a boy brought 

 me some insects to name, mostly of species common in England, but, 

 to my surprise, L'naeuiidophurus rhododactylits and Hcrniinia derivalis 

 were also there, as well asaxA^v-s-.s/a — probably ^JOHfonarm. I asked him 

 where he had got them, and he replied " About the school." A further 

 enquiry elicited the fact that he had been to school at Heidelberg. He 

 ofiered me any specimens I might like, but I took none. I have no 

 doubt, however, that the specimens are doing duty somewhere, 

 probably as British, and it shows how easily foreign specimens may be 

 introduced into British collections. — J. B. Hodgkinson, F.E.S. 



Captures at Reading in 1896. — I took a number of good things 

 last season : Endromis versicolor, Staiiropns fa//i (including 12 of the 

 black aberration), Noctua rhoiiiboidca, Cahjmnia jii/rcdina, Tiliacca 

 (Xantliia) aurai/o, Dasucampa riibi(/inea, all plentifully, whilst of 

 Biri/cla 00 I secured about one hundred specimens, about a half of 

 which were the ab. renago. — W. Barnes, 7, New Road, Southern Hill, 

 Reading. 



Polyommatus iolas in Switzerland. — A query. — I should be glad 

 to know whether any of your readers have ever taken Pulijommatus 

 iolas in Switzerland. Kane speaks of three taken near Sierre (in the 

 Rhone Valley), and, curiously enough, I have three specimens which I 

 captured at Sierre (one about five years ago, and two the following 



