NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 65 



EiPE Plums a Bait for Insects. — I could not make out why 

 the bats flew in and out of the plum-trees, and I could not make 

 out why there were no moths on my sugar ; but putting the two 

 negatives together I became positive tliat the bats were eating 

 moths and the moths were eating plums. So I spent the next 

 afternoon in setting up every available means of access to the 

 plum-trees, not only the standards but those on the walls ; and 

 in the evening reaped a rich reward, finding all the moths in the 

 country side feasting where the flies and wasps had feasted in the 

 daytime. The most prominent were Hadena protea, Anchocelis 

 ■pistacina, and A. litura ; but there was a fair sprinkling of Xanthia 

 citrago and X. Jiavago, with odd specimens of Agrotis segetum, 

 Luperina testacea, Gortyna ochracea, Polia fiavicincta, Noctua 

 plecta, N- c-nigrum, N.xanthograp ha, Xanthia circellaris, X. gilvago, 

 with an early Miselia oxyacauthce or two, this last being new to me 

 here. Is this method of capture generally known ? I wish I could 

 have publislied my details in time to have been of use to others, 

 but hope they will prove serviceable for next season. — G. M. A. 

 Hewett; Beckworth, Lindfield, Sussex. 



The Colorado Beetle. — When I came out to Colorado I 

 thought that tliere was one insect at least that I could rely 

 upon finding — the Leptinotarsa {Doryphora) decemlineata, Say, 

 commonly called the " Colorado beetle " or " potato-bug." But 

 strangely enough, I have travelled over a large portion of the 

 State, both on the eastern and western sides of the Rocky Moun- 

 tain range, and not only have failed to meet with it, but find an 

 almost complete ignorance of its existence amongst the natives ; 

 and in many cases, from descriptions given, it is evident that the 

 supposed Colorado beetle is not L. decemlineata at all. The 

 only example I have seen of Leptinotarsa decemlineata in 

 America was found in July, 1887, at the side of the railway-track 

 near Cambridge, Nebraska, where the pretty little butterfly, 

 NatJialis iolc, Bdv,, also occurred. Possibly Leptinotarsa may be 

 common in the low-lying eastern counties of Colorado, but can 

 any one refer me to a well-authenticated record of its capture 

 tliere? In my note (Eutom. xx. 2-'i7), for Sangre de Cisto read 

 Sangre de Cristo. — T. D. A. Cockerell ; West Clifl', Cluster Co., 

 Colorado. 



Uelaxing Insects. — It frequently happens that insects which 

 liave been kept some time become so stilf that they require to be 



