NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 55 



appeared to be just coming out at the end of the month near 

 Berne, but were not to be seen in any numbers. On July 28th I 

 watched a female of Vanessa c-album depositing eggs on the leaves 

 of the wych elm. Worn specimens of V. antiopa were seen in 

 small numbers at the commencement of the month in one locality 

 only, the beautiful borders of the wings being much tattered and 

 discoloured. V. urticce was very abundant in one or two valleys. 

 One specimen only was seen of V. atalanta and V. cardui. 

 Lyccena Icarus, with the exception of two specimens, did not 

 appear until the end of the month ; there appeared to be no 

 stragglers of the early brood. On July 8th I saw a female 

 Lyccena arion deposit eggs on the wild thyme ; the plant 

 appeared a somewhat larger kind than our own. L. semiargus 

 was partial to moist situations, sometimes in open places of that 

 character in woods ; I was quite unable, however, to watch any 

 females depositing eggs. L. cegoii was very abundant in a few 

 localities visited. Of the Heterocera my observations were con- 

 fined to those seen by day or the early evening. On July 10th 

 Cossus ligniperda was seen at rest on elm. Leucoma {Liparis) 

 salicis I noticed in great numbers on July lltli over sallow 

 bushes, branches being covered with them. On July I7tli 

 Ematurga {Fidonia) atomaria was abundant at Gletsch, near the 

 Glacier du Rhone. I also noticed near here some dark specimens 

 of Nemeopldla plantaginis, the yellow colour on the lower wings 

 being absent. Tanagra atrata {charophyllata) might be seen 

 flitting about in almost countless numbers in several valleys 

 amongst the long grass. Referring to the " whites," it appears 

 a remarkable season for them in this country. On the Cotswold 

 Hills in many places they now swarm, — in gardens, fields, and 

 woods, — more particularly Pieris rapes ; fifty have been counted 

 at one small plant of lavender. — T. B. Jefferys ; Clevedon, 

 Cirencester, August 9, 1887. 



Sphinx convolvuli Two Years in Pupa. — In August, 1886, a 

 friend found two larvas of this insect, whicli he promptly placed 

 in a box for me, without food of any description. One, however, 

 survived, and managed to pupate. I expected the inuigo to 

 emerge this season (1887), but it did not, and is now to all 

 appearances perfectly healthy, but has not manifested any 

 intention of altering its present condition. Is it an unusual 

 thing for this insect to spend more than one year m the pupa ? — • 



