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NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 285 
after a time again appear in numbers; but I have not in any book 
seen the question raised in connection with Moths. I have at the 
same time noticed that climatic and fruit seasons seem to have some 
bearing on the case ; for instance, in 1916 and 1909, when C. nupia 
and the “ Sallows” were so common, plums were very plentiful. 
Possibly the same kind of season is suitable for both fruits and 
moths, both years being damp. I can, of course, understand that all 
Species are commoner one year than another, but there seems to be 
such a periodic return and disappearance that there must be some 
reason. I have this season worked a good deal with the Rev. C. E. 
Raven ; he has seen these notes, and agrees with me that the subject 
is a most interesting one. I may add that I keep full notes each 
year of my catches and the climatic variations of the seasons.— 
R. H. Rarrray, Colonel; 68, Dry Hill Park Road, Tonbridge, Kent, 
October 20th, 1916. 
On Rearinc DIANTH@CIA IRREGULARIS.—Young larve were 
obtained on July 22nd, 1913, by Mr. (now Lieut.) Charles Mellows 
and myself; on July 18th, 1914, July 23rd, 1915 (very small), and 
ova, no larve, on July 25th, 1916. When young they feed best on 
the natural food. From a bunch of Silene otitis taken home in a tin 
I put two or three stems of the flowers and seeds in each of a number 
of small bottles of water. If crowded together the stems soon 
become mouldy. On these the young larve thrive, and also fresh 
larvee are reared from ova brought home with the food. When 
changing the food place fresh bottles of flowers and seeds so that they 
mingle with the old. When half grown they will take to the green 
seed pods of bladder and white campion. I have not yet tried red 
~ ¢ampion or ragged robin, and failed with pinks and sweet william 
seeds. They will now begin to bury in the sand during the day, 
especially so after the last change of skin. The sand given should 
be “ Freckenham sand” brought home for the purpose, and not a 
sand that binds or any form of earth. By the middle of September 
most of the larve will have pupated, but some were later this year. 
You can tell by fresh food being untouched and no fresh frass when 
they have buried for good. Look for appearance of the imagines 
about the middle of June. My latest emergences were two on 
June 26th, 1916.—R. Sranway Parris; Bishop’s Stortford. 
ANOSIA PLEXIPPUS IN IRELAND.—In ‘ The Field ’ for November 4th 
the capture of a very fine specimen of Anosia plexippus in Co. Cork is 
recorded by Major H. Chavasse, stating it is such a perfect specimen 
that it might just have emerged from the pupa. By Major Chavasse’s 
desire, I have pleasure in recording this important capture in ‘ The 
Entomologist,’ as it is the first known occurrence of this American 
species in Ireland. Although twenty-nine specimens have hitherto 
been seen or captured in the south of England, Wales, I. of Wight, 
and one in Guernsey, it is a curious fact that no examples have 
previously been met with in Ireland, especially as the greater number 
have occurred in the south-western counties of England, as many as 
nine occurring in Cornwall; and by the course taken in its migratory 
flight across the Atlantic, one would suppose the western coast of 
Treland would be the most accessible landing place. The first occur- 
