44 . THK KNTOMOLOGIST. 



specimens of this supposed second brood, it would be interesting if 

 lie would send a note. I have marked the tree, and will have a good 

 hunt for the larva in August. — A. Thuenall ; Wanstead, January 

 5th, 1918. 



EUPITHECIA PIMPINELLATA IN GlOUCKSTERSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE. 



— The past season, which has been so generally favourable to the 

 development of lepidopterous larvae, has produced a large crop, 

 amongst others of E. pimpinellata. During the last few days of 

 September I found the larvae of this species by the roadside close to 

 Northleach, in the Cotswolds, on the flowers and seeds of Pimpindla 

 saxijrcuja ; and about a week afterwards the same larva was in even 

 greater abundance on the same plant in one of the lovely dales which 

 form so prominent a feature in the scenery of North Derbyshire. 

 The larva is by no means difficult to find, hnt is exceedingly variable, 

 its leading varieties being well figured in Buckler's ' Larvae of British 

 Butterflies and Moths,' Plate cxxxii, fig. 6 ; and there is a full 

 description in the same volume, pp. 33, 34. One variety, however, 

 of which I found several specimens in Gloucestershire, but which 

 was altogether absent from my " bag" in North Derbyshii-e, is quite 

 different in appearance, and must, I think, be referred to another 

 species — possibly E. centaureata — as it bears a decided resemblance to 

 the figure of this last in Plate cxxx, labelled la, though my speci- 

 mens were decidedly brighter in colour. This larva is usually 

 described as " particularly subject to the attacks of ichneumons," 

 but not many of mine were thus attacked. And, by taking away 

 with me a good supply of the food-plant, I managed to rear as far 

 as the pupa stage upwards of fort}' larvae, from which I hope to rear 

 at least a good series during tlie coming season. — (Rev.) C. F. 

 Thoenewill ; 2, Tackley Place, Oxford. 



PoLYGONiA c-AiiBUM IN CHESHIRE. — During a visit to Droitwich 

 in July I found Polygonia c-alhum very abundant. — PI. 0. Wells ; 

 Inchiquin, Lynwood Avenue, Epsom. 



CoLiAs EDusA IN SuRREY. — In September I saw' Colias edusa 

 on Epsom Downs and at Dorking, and a friend of mine (Mr. H. W. 

 Yardley, of West Norwood) caught two at Broadstairs. — PI. O. 

 Wells ; Inchiquin, Lynwood Avenue, Epsom. 



Late Wasps. — Our common species of Vesj^a have been abroad 

 remarkably late here. I have records of 9 's and i^ 's, at our sunny 

 south windows, for December 11th, loth, and 24th. On Christmas 

 Day itself individuals were still to, be seen, but none since. A ^ 

 was taken, as it entered the house, on the 25th ! Although the days 

 quoted were warm in the sun, it is strange that the sharp spells of 

 frost endured had not sent the ? 's to permanent winter quarters 

 and killed the $ 's, even if food were, somehow, still obtainable. — 

 F. H. Haines ; Brookside, Winfrith, Dorset, January 5th, 1918. 



Note on the Cyanide Bottle.- — It is interesting to observe how 

 differently susceptible different species are to the action of the 

 cyanide bottle. I have frequently noticed that some insects take 

 much longer to succumb to its action than others, but my attention 

 was particularly drawn to this fact one day last July, when taking 



