1884.] 139 



Of larvae, I collected only a few, but I may mention that larvse feeding in the 

 erminal shoots of Myrica gale produced a beautiful and varied series of Poedisca 

 emifuscana. — A. H. Jones, Shrublands, Eltham, Kent : September ISth, 1884. 



PentJiina Staintoniana, Scotch form of Penthina sauciana?.— It has frequently 

 »een suggested that Penthina Staintoniana is only a northern form of one of the 

 °enthitice, but of wliich it has never been determined. The only species with which 

 can be associated is sauciana. On comparing it, the markings appear to be iden- 

 ical, and the only difference between the two species is in point of colour, Staintoniana 

 >eing much paler than sauciana. To this difference I attach but little importance, 

 onsidering the varied forms which are produced by altered conditions. Both 

 pecies occur among Vaccinium myrtillus, which may be taken as additional evidence, 

 taudinger and Wocke, in their Catalogue, do not mention " Staintoniana^'^ They 

 ive as the geogi-aphical distribution of sauciana — " Grermany, Central and South 

 dps, Scandinavia, Lapland, Livonia, England. I have but little doubt that Stain- 

 oniana is only the " Scandinavian " form of this species. — Id. : October 37'd, 1884. 



IPenthina sauciana diners from Staintoniana in the shape of the fore- wings, 

 ^hich, in sauciana, are broader with arched costa and truncate hind margin. The 

 ifference between these two species is much the same as that between caprcBana 

 nd hetuletana. Nevertheless, the subject will bear further investigation. — C. G-. 



tABEETT.] 



Note on Laccobius minufvs. — This seems to be a rather scarce species. Since 

 )r. Sharp's remarks on the genus {cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, 85), I have separated 

 he specimens in my cabinet, and find the result is — L. sinuatus, Motsch., from 

 Vorthing-; L. alutaceus, Th., from Deal ; and L. bipunctatus, Th., from Folkestone. 

 minutus, auct., I do not possess. Mr. Wood remarks {cf. Ent. Mo. Mag., xxi, 

 12) that he has only one example ; and my friend, Mr. Newbery, also informs me 

 6 has all the species, but only one of L. minutus, and that specimen from an old 

 jllection, without any label. — C. Gr. Hall, 7, Beaconsfield Eoad, Deal : October 

 0th, 1884. 



On setting Coleoptera. — So many of the carded specimens of beetles sent me by 

 •rrespondents in various parts of the country are not in a sufficiently clean state of 

 counting to please my — perhaps, too fastidious — views of what a collection of 

 ties should look like, that I venture to call attention to a method of setting in- 

 induced by Mr. J. H. Smedley, of this city, and which has been adopted by all to 

 horn we have shown it. All Coleopterists must have noticed that, no matter what 

 [ire be employed, some beetles cannot be mounted with tragacanth without the 

 Itrd bearing traces of the setting needle, in the form of a rough, woolly-looking 

 irface, showing as a dirty blotch round the legs and antennae of the specimen. 

 he method we adopt entirely does away with any unpleasant appearance. The 

 ►ecimens, after having been killed with boiling water, and drained on blotting 

 iper, are set with hot, thin glue upon pieces of old stout card — stout, because thin 

 .rd curls up as the glue contracts on drying. The specimens are set on this in the 

 me manner as when tragacanth is employed, but with far less trouble, and in one- 

 xth of the time, for as each leg or antenna is drawn to its place it is retained 



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