288 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



since trying them I have used no other. — (Rev.) W. Claxton ; Nave- 

 stock Vicarage, Romford. 



Eakly Stages of Limenitis sibylla. — On August 15th last, in the 

 New Forest, a search was made on the honeysuckle for the eggs of the 

 "white admiral" butterfly. It was not difficult to find them near the 

 margin of the leaf, but it was a week or two too late — all found were 

 empty. A number of little larvae were seen, some of which were pro- 

 bably a fortnight old, and by their size were nearly ready to go mto 

 hybernation. They feed from the tip of the leaf downwards, leaving 

 the midrib, on which some were resting. Usually a bit of the leaf left 

 uneaten had curled up and turned brown, reminding one of the appear- 

 ance of the hybernaculum. It almost looked as if this had been 

 brought about by the foresiglit of the little brown larvae as a means of 

 protection ! — W. J. Lucas. 



Gnophos obscuraria at rest. — On July 30th last a visit was made to 

 a locality of this insect near Brockenhurst, in order to obtain photo- 

 graphs of it in its resting position. Several were found, but only by 

 disturbing them — not one was discovered in situ. They were resting 

 on the grey or brown soil above the sand on the sides of a small pit. 

 When after being disturbed they were watched down again, they 

 usually almost defied detection. Often they hid away in a small 

 chink, but their colouring is so protective that this hiding away 

 seemed scarcely necessary. — W. J. Lucas. 



PoTAMANTHus LUTEus. — Ouc female specimen of this mayfly, little 

 known as British, was taken at the River Itchin, near Eastleigh, on 

 August 14th, 1906. Records for it are chiefly from Weybridge. A 

 characteristic feature is the process or lobe on each side of the ninth 

 abdominal segment. I have to thank Mr. C. A. Briggs for identifying 

 the specimen. — W. J. Lucas. 



Resting Habit of Satyrus semele. — Early in the morning of July 

 SOth last I noticed one of these butterflies settle two or three times in 

 the bright sunshine on a sandy track in tlie New Forest. It adjusted 

 itself somewhat after settling, but not so that the shadow thrown was 

 a line. In fact, it seemed purposely to arrange itself so that a broad 

 shadow was produced. This, however, did not seem to make it more 

 conspicuous, for other objects threw shadows. The last time it lay 

 with its wings nearly flat on the sand, when of course there was 

 practically no shadow. — W. J. Lucas. 



Cleaning, Relaxing, and Resetting Lepidoptera. — First remove 

 the data-labels. Should an insect be dull or dusty, brush the wings 

 lightly with a piece of cotton-wool ; I prefer cotton-wool to a camel- 

 hair brush. Brush from the base of the wings outwards ; then brush 

 the body from the thorax downwards. Not a scale will be disturbed, 

 and the appearance of the insect will be much improved. If the insect 

 be a clearwing, immerse it wholly in benzine, chloroform, or benzoline 

 for a week or a fortnight after brushing. Greasy bodies of other species 

 should be broken off close to the thorax, and steeped in benzine, &c., 

 as above. Kefix the bodies with shellac dissolved in spirits of wine ; 

 add a little Stephens's liquid gum, and stir it up well. Pointed forceps, 



