258 THE kntomologist's record. 



the following spring, to be removed suddenly one morning by the 

 welcome appearance of several dark little caterpillars creeping out of 

 their respective shells," etc. Now this is rather amazing, considering 

 that the larva hatches in the autumn, and the insect hybernates in the 

 larval stage. There is, however, another statement suggestive of a 

 fairy tale, for which Dr. Lukis' informant as to the success of the ex- 

 periment is possibly responsible. It reads : " They bore the long 

 journey admirably, and, safely arrived, were soon divided into several 

 groups, some of which were set at liberty. These throve wonderfully, 

 and established themselves completely, and have since spread through 

 large districts in Yorkshire, being recently found even on the borders 

 of Wales ; and probably also have spread in other directions, so as to 

 claim a place in the British list, which, indeed, the author referred to 

 has been complaisantly pleased to allot them in his work, with what 

 justice the reader may determine as he may." This was written in 

 186B, but the history of the insect's distribution will no doubt come as 

 news to most British lepidopterists in 1897. 



[Note. — Mr. Hewett has kindly handed us the detailed notes which 

 he received from various correspondents whilst writing his paper on 

 the Tephrosias. He has suggested that some of these communica- 

 tions are worth publishing at length, and we have much pleasure 

 in complying with the recj^uest that we should do so. — Kd.J 



Tephrosia bistortata (crepuscularia) as a Scotch insect. 



Tfi>/ir<isiu bisturtata [rrcjntsnilaria) occurs at Perth fairly commonly 

 every year. The earliest date on which I have taken the species is 

 April 28th, and the latest May 21st. The best time to get the species 

 in numbers in fine condition is from May 5th to May 10th ; after the 

 latter date they are not worth taking. 7'. bistortata {crepuscularia) does 

 not appear to be double-brooded at Perth ; in fact I never saw a 

 specimen after May 21st. T. crepuscularia {biiiudularia) does not 

 occur here. T. bistortata varies but little in the Perth district ; the 

 females, as a rule, are lighter than the males. The specimens are 

 obtained within two miles of Perth, in a locality the height of which 

 above the sea level is from 600 to 700 ft. The temperature (whilst 

 the species is on the wing) is from G0° to 65°. The larviB occur on 

 larch. I have taken one or two larvje from wild rose, near to which 

 plenty of larch grew, and also one from birch. — R. Lawson. Sejd. 

 28th, 1896. 



2\ crepuscularia (biundularia) does not occur at Perth. Last year 

 (1895) T. bistortata (crepuscularia) was very abundant, both at Kinnoull 

 Hill and at Kinfaun, both of which places are at a considerable eleva- 

 tion. This year (1896) they were scarce. The Kinnoull specimens 

 are of the normal Perthshire type of this species, but the Kinfaun 

 specimens were dark in the males, whilst the females were very light, 

 and a few were found of normal colour. They were mostly found on 

 trunks of larch and Scotch fir. The earliest date I have taken them 

 here was upon April lOtli, the latest was the second week in June. I 

 sent Mr. Tutt a rather long series of the Kinfaun specimens last year, 

 one of which, a female, was nearly white, Mr. Tutt remarking thai 



