﻿20 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



insect was replaced on the board for two or three days longer. I 

 wonder whether Mr. St. John has tried injection of a minute quantity 

 of formaldehyde into the bodies of such species as sparganii and 

 ochracea ? I should imagine it would have the effect of preventing 

 any flow of fatty or greasy matter, since I believe formaldehyde or 

 formalin — (are these of precisely similar composition chemically?) — 

 are used in testing butter, on glass slips, the hardening effect it pro- 

 duces being very striking. It may be possible to combine formalin 

 with ether or some light spirit, as a vehicle, so that an injection 

 would permeate the whole insect, and evaporate quickly, leaving 

 behind the essential germicide, thus obviating the necessity of re- 

 moving, cleaning, and replacing the bodies of certain species. Pro- 

 bably Professor Meldola could settle all these points offhand. — 

 G. Beetkam Kershaw ; 9, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. 



ACRONYCTA STRIGOSA AND HaDENA ATRIPLICIS IN HUNTING- 

 DONSHIRE. — Several localities in Cambridgeshire have been men- 

 tioned where A. strigosa has been taken, but I see no mention of 

 Huntingdonshire. When I began collecting I paid many visits to 

 Somersham, in Huntingdonshire, and in 1874, 1875, and 1876, at 

 sugar, I took both A. strigosa and H. atriplicis, the former generally 

 three or four each evening, while H. atriplicis was one of the com- 

 monest insects at the sugar patches, often four or five on a tree trunk, 

 and on looking at my diary I find I took thirty-eight one evening. I 

 have not been to this spot since 1877, and so far as I know it has not 

 been visited by any entomologist. I see no reason why they should 

 not both be still taken there if worked for. Somersham is about six 

 miles from Chatteris, a well-known locality. — James Kenward ; 

 1, Norfolk Gardens, Lower Addiscombe Eoad, Croydon. 



Acronycta strigosa, Hadena atriplicis, &c. — Mr, Thurnall's 

 notes (Entom. xlvii. p. 313) anent A. strigosa are of interest. With 

 regard to the plantation mentioned, this has been cited to me as a 

 former locality for both Hadena atriplicis and Acronycta strigosa 

 at sugar. I have never myself been able to determine the position of 

 this plantation. There is one rather north-east of the village, if I 

 recollect aright, but I believe this is all small holdings now. With 

 regard to recent captures of atriplicis, there was a ridiculous lawsuit 

 some years ago, arising from the visit of entomologists to Holme Fen, 

 and I seem to remember that two or three atriplicis were taken on 

 that occasion. Newman (Edward), I think, records the fact that 

 years ago pupae of atriplicis were so common that they used to be 

 collected by boys and sold for feeding fowls. Concerning Lcelia 

 canosa, the late Mr. Bailey, of Wicken, told me that he was in the 

 Fen when Mr. Porritt took the last cceiiosa, and I think he said that 

 Mr. Porritt exchanged it with him for some Nascia cilialis, then very 

 scarce. I should say that in some notes of mine on strigosa, 

 appearing in the ' Entomologist ' a short time ago, Mr. Bailey was 

 accidentally referred to as the ' Kev.' Mr. Thurnall is no doubt aware 

 that a Houghton and a Bailey still carry on the traditions of 

 their respective families as entomologists at Wicken. — G. Bertram 

 Kershaw, M.Inst.C.E., F.E.S. ; 9, Victoria Street, Westminster, 

 S.W., December 7th, 1914. 



