212 [February, 



These must be the only four sources of value ; and as D, Archippus ia worth 

 sixpence, the would-be purchaser must regard £4 19s. 6d. as the value of the fact 

 that the butterfly may cross the Atlantic in a steamer, and not die of sea-sickness. 

 Old Benjamin Franklin would say that " he pays rather dear for his whistle !" — 

 E. C. R. Jordan, 105, Harborue Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham : Bee. 10th, 1885. 



LyccEnidcB at Cambridge in 1885. — In connection with the occurrence in 

 England of Lycana Argiades, it is noteworthy how abundant the " blues " generally 

 were last year. I think I never remember seeing L. Alexis in such profusion as it 

 was about this neighbourhood, and I also obtained as many specimens of L. Corydon 

 as I cared for, although, from unavoidable reasons, I was able to devote very little 

 time to collecting last season. — Albert II. Waters, Mill Road, Cambridge : 

 January IQth, 1886. 



Superstition regarding Aclierontia Atropos. — The following story is given me 

 by a friend residing at Teignmouth, who has heard it more than once from the prin- 

 cipal actor (or sufferer) in it ; and it is by no means a story of ancient days. 



A fine specimen of Aclierontia Atropos had been caught by a sailor on board 

 ship out at sea, and brought ashore and given by him to a youngster, who being 

 fond of curiosities received it as a gi'eat prize, and in his pride displayed it on the 

 wall in his mother's room in a case specially made for it. Some time after the young 

 man fell ill, and, duinng his illness, an old woman, who had officiated as nurse in his 

 early days, and took an especial interest in him, paid his mother a visit of condo- 

 lence, and unfortunately cast eyes on the " Death's Head." The cause of the illness 

 was seen at once ! " No wonder your son has fallen ill ! and he'll never be well 

 again as long as that thing is in the house !" 



Of course she had plenty of instances to relate of the horrible danger of neglecting 

 her warnings, till the mother in alarm promised to throw the unlucky thing away. 

 But that was not enough, it must be burnt ; nothing else would avert the impending 

 evils — and into the fire it went. And before long the unfortunate curiosity-lover 

 recovered his health — only to find that the good ladies' affectionate care had robbed 

 him of his greatest treasure ! — J. Hellins, The Close, Exeter : January 14:th, 1886. 



Qelechia jnleJla bred fifteen years ago. — In the month of July, 1870, whilst 

 having a day's collecting on the banks of the Thames near Shoeburyness, I came 

 across a number of larvse crawling actively about, up and down, on a wooden fence. 

 They were evidently full fed, and seeking a place for pupation. As far as I can 

 remember, they were flesh-coloured, with a strong tinge of pink. At the foot of the 

 fence and by the side of the pathway the common mallow (Malta sylvestris) was 

 growing in profusion, and though at that time I was quite ignorant of the habit 

 which the larva of Gel. malvella has of leaving its winter hibernaculum and rambling 

 abroad, I fancied my larvae might belong to that species. I collected a fair number, 

 and from them bred at the beginning of September (or in August) six or seven 

 imagos, which, answering fairly well to the description given of malvella, I placed 



