18S7.] 108 



^00 cold, affects them but little. One of our best nigbts — when six 

 'jvere taken — was beautifully fine, with bright moonlight, the other — 

 when seven or eight were seen, and five taken — was exceedingly wet 

 and stormy. Certainly, rough weather is no great obstacle to them, 

 they only seem to be rendered more careless of danger by the rough 

 "^blowing about of the flowers, and I have little doubt that they are 

 attracted a long distance by the rich perfume carried away by gusts 

 of wind. 



To the Carlylean query, "whence?" it seems politic to offer no 

 opinion. My friends here (who eagei'ly claim these charming insects 

 as genuine natives of Norfolk) urge that Convolvulus is quite suffi- 

 ' ciently abundant —as it certainly is (three species), — but I have a 

 strong suspicion that a reinforcement has arrived from abroad to join 

 the native contingent. If so, the journey has not injured them much, 

 either in beauty or activity. One curious circumstance about them is 

 the very large preponderance of females, especially in the earlier 

 captures. Of our twelve earliest specimens, only one was a male. 

 I hear that just lately the conditions are reversed, but not more than 

 one-fourth of our specimens are males. 



King's Lynn, Norfolk : 



September 13^, 1887. 



Sphinx convolvuli at Lee, Kent. — A fine ? of this insect was broiiglit to me on 

 the 18th inst. It was taken in a garden in the neighbourhood. — C. Fenn, Burnt 

 Ash Hill, Lee : August 22nd, 1887. 



Sphinx convolvuli in Birmingham. — A specimen of this insect was captured 

 last week in Bellbarn Koad. It was found on a doorpost. — W. Harcoubt Bath, 

 Ladywood, Birmingham : September '7th, 1887. 



Sphinx convolvuli at Newmarket. — S. convolvuli came into my dining room and 

 buzzed about the ceiling ; one had been caught a few days before in a neighbour's 

 garden ; and Mrs. Vei-rall saw two just outside the front door a few days afterwards, 

 but when I came with my net tlioy were gone. — G. H. Verrall, Newmarket : 

 September 18th, 1887. 



Sphinx convohmli at Cambridge. — Two specimens of Sphinx convolvuli have 

 recently come into my hands. The first was captured in a house near here (Mill 

 Road) on August 19th, the other was knocked down by a boy three or four days 

 ago as it was flying on the Newmarket Koad, near the Barnwell Bailway Station. 

 The last named was a good deal worn, the other was in beautiful condition and 

 apparently not long emerged. — Albert 11. Waters, Willoughby House, Mill Road, 

 Cambridge : September 12th, 1887. 



