312 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



June 13th, 1907. I did not think the capture worth recording at the 

 time, but when I mentioned it to a correspondent he proved sceptical, 

 saying that very few A. auricoma had been taken in the last twenty 

 years, and suggesting that they might be a form of A. rumicis. This 

 insinuation sent me with the specimens to Mr. Sidney Webb, who re- 

 assured me as to their identity. I gathered from him that Dover might 

 be a new locality for the species. Curiously enough, the wood in ques- 

 tion is that in which the specimen of G. alchymista recorded in ' Barrett ' 

 (vi. 232) was taken, and it was Mr. Webb's kindness in telling me of 

 the locahty that induced me to sugar regularly there. Needless to 

 say, I have not found G. alchymista yet, nor have I seen anything 

 more of A. auricoma, although I worked hard for a second brood in 

 1907, and for both broods this year.— (Capt.) P. A. Cardew ; St. 

 Aldwyns, Park Avenue, Dover, November 18th, 1908. 



AcHERONTiA ATROPOS IN HERTFORDSHIRE. — I had a larva of A. 

 atropos brought me in August by some children who found it in Grove 

 Eoad, Hitchin. This duly pupated, and a perfect insect emerged on 

 November 1st. Another larva dug up in a potato-field was unfortu- 

 nately injured and died. — E. C. Grellet ; Orford Lodge, Hitchin, 

 Herts, November 18th, 1908. 



^scHNA MIXTA IN SussEX. — Our friend Mr. H. J. Watts, of West- 

 minster, has been kind enough to show us a pair of j^scJma viixta 

 which he took at Pulborough on October 4th last. Both the speci- 

 mens were very fully matured, and the wings of the female were 

 somewhat frayed. Mr. Watts tells us that they alighted on a grassy 

 spot, and were secured together by placing the net over them. — 

 F. W. & H. Campion ; Walthamstow, November 17th, 1908. 



BoMBYX QUERCus ASSEMBLING. — I had a somewhat curious expe- 

 rience with this moth during a fortnight's holiday spent at Treburrick, 

 a small Cornish village lying about midway between Padstow and 

 St. Columb, in the middle of August last year. Accompanied by my 

 family and relatives, we set out for a walk, one dull, damp afternoon, 

 to a small neighbouring village known as " Shop," and situated some 

 three miles away. Our route lay along picturesque lanes, the high 

 rocky banks of which were clothed with ferns, wild flowers, bramble, 

 &c., and offering from time to time, through the gaps and gateways 

 in the hedges, glorious views of the sea. My youngest son, ever on 

 the look-out for captures, was fortunate enough to espy a freshly 

 emerged " oak eggar," its wings not yet grown, crawling up a lichen- 

 covered rocky bank. This he quickly secured and placed in a two- 

 inch glass-bottomed box, and, to allow the wings to properly develop, 

 the box was kept uncovered. Carried in this way the moth's wings 

 gradually expanded to their full size, but owing perhaps to the pre- 

 vailing moist air, or the motion caused by travelling, they remained 

 weak and flaccid for a considerable time. On reaching " Shop " I had 

 occasion to leave my people for a few minutes while I obtained some 

 stamps at the village post-office, and on returning I found them in a 

 great state of commotion. Their excitement was caused by the 

 antics of a bright-coloured moth which persisted in flying at and 

 settling upon my sister, who at this time was carrying the female 

 " eggar " in the open box. I quickly took in the situation and 



