66 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
far as is known, to Cambridgeshire and Killarney. On the continent, 
however, in some countries at least, its habits are widely different. 
In 1914 it was one of the most abundant species at Sarepta, on the 
banks of the Volga, frequenting dry slopes,:railway banks, ete.— 
W.G. SHetpon ; February 8th, 1916. 
Tue Norrouk “ Hesperia ALvEus.’—In Barrett’s ‘ Lepidoptera 
of the British Isles,’ vol. 1, pp. 272-274, there is a detailed account 
of the capture in Norfolk of Hesperia (Syrichtus) alveus by the Rey. 
T. H. Marsh in the early days of 1860, and of an unsuccessful search 
on the same ground thirty years later, when the specimens had been 
identified in the captor’s collection. Is anything known of the later 
history of these specimens; in whose collection they are placed at 
the present time; or their ultimate fate? I see Mr. Meyrick 
(‘ British Lepidoptera,’ p. 356) suggesting an error after the lapse of 
so long a time, and in view of the fact that they carried no label, is 
disinclined to accept their authenticity. If, however, the species 
taken was actually alveus, as then known, we may infer that it should 
now be referred to H. armoricanus, Obthr., which inhabits the 
Channel littoral from Finistére to the department of the Nord, and 
has been finally separated by M. Charles Oberthiir and Dr. J. 
Reverdin from the mountain species, which is the true H. alveus. 
The accidental introduction of the butterfly into Norfolk from France 
is improbable ; it is more likely, if imported, and assuming the cap- 
ture to have been made at all at the spot indicated, to have come 
from Belgium. Though, being a strong flier, and a hardy insect, 
judging from its known distribution (as alveuws) throughout the plains 
of northern Europe at least as far north as the German Baltic 
coast, it is surprising that it has not transferred itself across the 
Channel after the fashion of Callimorpha quadripunctaria. I sug- 
gest, therefore, that as the energies of our British continental 
collectors are likely for yet another year to be concentrated on native 
lepidoptera, they should keep close watch for H. armoricanus, which 
in normal seasons is on the wing simultaneously with H. malve in 
May and early June, but, unlike malve, is double-brooded, appearing 
again in August andSeptember. The larva affects Potentalla reptans, 
and doubtfully Fragaria vesca according to M. Rehfous (‘ Obs. bio- 
logiques sur H. alveus, Hb., et H. armoricanus, Obthr.,” ‘Bull. Soc. 
Lépid. Genéve,’ vol. ii, p. 149).—H. Rownanp-Brown; Harrow Weald, 
February 9th, 1916. 
Mires 1n Settinc Boarps.—May I be allowed to ask if setting 
boards can be treated to render them immune from the attacks of 
Mites. The cork of new boards even appears to be frequently affected, 
and though I find others have experienced the same trouble, no one 
seems aware of an effectual remedy.—Joun EH. EHastwoop; Gosden 
House, Guildford. 
VARIETY OF BARATHRA BRASSICH#.—Last June I had the pleasure 
of breeding a fine variety of Barathra (Mamestra) brassica. It is 
nearly black, with a slight reddish tinge; all the white markings, 
stigmata and subterminal lines being entirely absent. It had thus 
