NOTES AND OBSEBVATIONS. 195 



taken near Digne, Basses-Alpes, that it resembles Taniocampa mnnda, 

 and can be either reddish or grey. — Frank Bromilow ; Villa Avalon, 

 St. Maurice, Nice, France, May 6th, 1894. 



Swarming of Vanessa polychloros. — Previous to the spring of 

 1893 Vanessa polychloros was comparatively rare in this district, and I 

 had seen but very few. All through from March 14th into April of 

 1893 the species was very commonly met with in the forest; but 

 during the spring of this year it has been in greater abundance; 

 I have, however, rarely seen it outside the forest. The dates of first 

 and last appearance up to to-day, and the numbers seen, were as 

 follows: — March 11th, wind S.W., fine; two specimens at Linford 

 within a few yards of each other ; a female, very bright and in good 

 condition ; male rather small. A few at various times up to the 

 17th, when the wind was N.E., previous night cold, but sky clear and 

 warm sunshine during the day ; on this occasion V, polychloros was 

 plentiful, though scattered. March 19th, plentiful ; I saw nine 

 specimens upon an isolated male sallow-bush ; one or two were 

 feeding upon the catkins, and two pairs by their well-known move- 

 ments were evidently about to copulate ; a few flew away and settled 

 upon the ground. March 23rd, about a mile west of Boldrewood, in a 

 narrow riding, I came across two fine birch-trees amongst oaks and 

 firs, and upon these birches I saw a large assembly of F. polychloros ; I 

 counted above twenty-five, and upon the bare branches there were 

 several pairs in cop. their dark wings being quite visible ; on kicking 

 the trees a number flew off, circled round, and settled again. In this 

 case there were no catkins to feed upon, and I think there is no doubt 

 they were assembled for the purpose of copulating, all their move- 

 ments indicating it ; they did not settle upon the other trees around. 

 25th, abundant at sallow, creeping amongst the upper twigs, and 

 evidently about to oviposit. 29th, still common. April 1st, in lesser 

 numbers, getting worn. April 8th, found a batch of ova upon sallow, 

 all of which hatched on the 12th. April 10th, saw several very 

 dilapidated imagines ; and on the 19th another batch of ova was 

 found, which I sent to Dr. Chapman ; these eggs were just changing 

 to the larval colour. 21st, in the Boldrewood locality, one specimen 

 only, its gay colour quite gone, but flight still vigorous ; this was the 

 last specimen seen up to date. In writing the above I have acted upon 

 the kind suggestion of Dr. Chapman that I should do so, as it would 

 seem to be unusual for any of the Vanessidffi to be seen swarming 

 during the spring. I did not notice any appearance of this butterfly 

 swarming during the spring of 1893 ; previous to the last two seasons 

 I had very little experience with this species. — J. Hy. Fowler • Kint'- 

 wood, April 23rd, 1894. ° 



Grease in the Thorax. — Lepidopterists will feel grateful to Dr. 

 Knaggs for his instructive article entitled "How moth-grease spreads" 

 {ante, p. 91). The information there given respecting the cause of 

 greasy thoraces, will prove especially valuable to collectors, and 

 enable them in a great measure to prevent it. Dr. Knaggs has clearly 

 pointed out that the mischief is due to unskilful pinning, and close 

 scrutiny will show that he has " hit the right nail on the h'ead." It is 



