NOTES ON COLLECTING. 103 



recorded it from the Plymouth district {Ent. Mo. Mag., 1904) and Mr. 

 Champion from Chobham, in Surrey (Ibid., 1907). In Ireland, 

 according to Johnson and Halbert, it has been found in Donegal, 

 Down, Armagh, and Wicklow — all mountainous districts. It would 

 be of interest to know if the specimens captured in low-lying countries 

 occurred in woods, as mine did. — G. W. Nicholson, M.A., M.D., 

 F.E.S., University College Hospital, W.C. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Ova AND LAKV.E OF PiERis NAPi. — Ova of this species hatched on 

 Saturday March 2nd with me, but those of my friend Mr. Littlewood, 

 of Kendal hatched on February 14th, I believe. My larvae are feeding 

 well on fine grass (Fefitncn ociiia). When sitting at rest, their attitude 

 is very sphinx-like, the head being tucked right under. The larva, 

 when walking, is just like a small green Geometer. All my ova 

 hatched within a period of three hours. — H. Mallinson, Oakland, 

 Windermere. March i2tli. 



J510TES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



Collecting in frost. — A few months ago I sent to the P^nt. 

 Record an account of my collecting during a sharp frost, thinking it 

 might be of some use to my brother entomologists. That, however, 

 was in the daytime and in sunlight. I have since had a more vivid 

 experience, the knowledge of which may save someone else coming 

 home empty-handed, as I nearly did. On October 28th, 1911, I went 

 to Earlswood, a few miles from Birmingham, just after mid-day. I 

 noticed how quickly it seemed to be getting cold, but it was no use 

 turning back. The woods were reached about 3 o'clock, and I began 

 to beat along the western edge, where, as a rule, 0/iorabia dilutata is 

 very common and in much variety. The sun was shining, but through 

 a glittering mist, and I only succeeded in knocking out a solitary 

 example. The air had, by this time, become so cold that the insect 

 was too lethargic to fly, and fell on the grass. As it was only a very 

 ordinary form, I left it on the ground. Thinking that it would be better 

 in the wood, 1 searched for some time, but the result was nil. By this 

 time it was getting dark and I put on the sugar, with the same result 

 as before, and after three turns round my sugar patches I made up my 

 mind to return home, especially as the frost had become so keen that 

 I was glad to keep my hands tight to my lantern. That it was really 

 cold may be assured as 14 degrees of frost were registered during the 

 night. Just as I was leaving the wood I thuught I saw something 

 flutter, and after a close search a specimen of Ilibernia aurantiaria 

 was met with. This suggested searching the twigs. At first the 

 search was unsuccessful, but finally, by working on the leeward side of 

 bushes, etc., and getting down on to the withered and brown grasses, 

 I began to take insects with their wings folded over their backs, so 

 that I could not be quite sure as to species until the next morning. 

 Just before leaving, among the grass, I saw, what for a moment 

 I did not understand, something like a couple of miniature ferns, 

 I soon however found them to be the antennae of Himera pennaria, a 



