2(jG [December, 



In the same nuthor's Cybcle Britannica (published in 1819), we have the further 

 information, Vol. ii, p. 97 : " It has occurred also on Ilebburn ballast-hills, by the 

 Tync, doubtless introduced." I call attention to this, as it may possibly point to 

 the chance of a casual introduction on the Essex coast. — H. T. Stainton, Mounts- 

 field, Lewisham, S. E. : November IGth, 1883. 



Hahits of Sciaphila sinuana. — In the beginning of June, ■while looking among 

 wild hyacinth for Eupcecilia maculosana, I noticed a flower head spun together, and 

 a large Tortrix larva in the web. My idea at the time was tliat it was some larva 

 which had dropped from the oaks overhead, and was spinning up on the hyacinth ; 

 I boxed it, however, with the flowers, and on looking at it again, a few days after, found 

 that it had eaten the flowers, and was pupating. In due time, to my great delight, 

 a fine female sinuana emerged. It may, probably (unlike some of its relatives), be 

 a restricted feeder ; which, with the sluggish habits of the imago, may account for 

 its rarity. I took both sexes afterwards, but very sparingly. They have a decided 

 habit of dropping down instead of flying, when beaten out. They were only in a 

 few places, but invariably where iiyacinths abounded. I beat most of my specimens 

 from elders ; perhaps chosen because the large leaves were good shelter, and near the 

 ground. I never before beat anything from that tree worth looking at twice. In 

 fact, there is so little to be got from it, that I very seldom beat it. Probably, the 

 true habit of the moth is to rest among the brackens and low herbage, and not to 

 fly until late, as I never took it on the wing. I took only one on a tree-trunk, a 

 female. I also took a single example of Tortrix cratcegana, a female. I suppose I 

 must have been late for the species, as I did not meet with it again. Tortrix sor- 

 biana is fairly common among tlie oaks, and I also met with four T. cinnamomeana. 

 Penthina picaria occurs sparingly on birch trees ; and among larches and Scotch 

 firs I have taken Spilonota lariciana, Mixodia Ratzehiirgiana, Coccyx nanana, and 

 Pcedisca occultana. The larva of P. sordidana is fairly common on the alders in 

 the woods. — J. Sang, 181, Horninglow Street, Burton-on-Trent : October \^th, 1883. 



Occurrence of Gelechia IlUhnerl, at Burton. — I had the good fortune to come 

 across this rare species in this neighbourhood. The specimens were taken at rest on 

 the trunks of oaks, the first and second weeks in August. 



They sit very closely concealed in the chinks of the bai-k, and are quite as 

 difiieult to sec (if not more so) as a Kepticula ; more especially as they do not run 

 when they find themselves looked at, as Nepticulce do, but have the bad manners to 

 drop, and generally outside the net. It seems surprising that so comparatively large 

 a moth can make itself so nearly invisible. They sit very close during the day, ex- 

 cept when stared at, to which they have a very decided objection, and must drop 

 down among the herbage at dusk, as tlicrc are then none to be found, and I have 

 taken none on the wing. — Id. 



Captures of Lepidoptera at Howth. — I had my first trip across the Irish Chainiel 

 this summer, to try to procure the larvoe of Nepticula aeetosce. I am happy to say 

 that I was successful, thanks to " S,hield's Practical Hints," the directions in which 

 I found most exact and useful. The weather was not all one could desire for col- 

 lecting, as they turned on the wet every afternoon I was there. 



