94 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



in their earlier stages, are perfectly easy to find, if one is fortunate 

 enough to hit on the locality at the right time ; and with this species 

 the last consideration is all-important, for I know of no larva that 

 possesses more marvellously quick growing powers. Finding larvse 

 of an inch in length, I have had them full fed and about to bury in 

 a week's time. 



Let me refer my reader to Newman's excellent notes on the 

 species — ' British Moths,' page 435. I can corroborate exactly what 

 he gives as regards date ; possessing records in 1897, a somewhat 

 backward season, of both small and full-grown larvas on June 20th 

 and 28th. I think the middle of June may be looked upon as the 

 time to begin searching. It is certainly a fastidiously local species ; 

 and on this point again I find Newman correct to the letter, having 

 taken it in dockyards in the heart of Birkenhead. I have also taken it 

 on the sand at Abergele, at Crosby near Liverpool, and in abundance 

 at Bidston, Birkenhead, and near the mouth of the Wyre, Fleetwood; 

 which experience leads me to suppose that it has a preference for 

 the coast. 



One word more in respect to the pupas. Until 1897 I had never 

 succeeded in rearing a single moth, the pupa3 always drying up just 

 before emergence. In that year I bred a fine series of fourteen by 

 keeping them buried in a tin of moistened soil. They all emerged in 

 November and December, some being expedited by gentle forcing. I 

 have lately been subjecting a greater number of C. asteris pupse to the 

 same treatment, with the fatal result that nearly all have succumbed 

 to mould. Truly one lives and learns. The moral, therefore, seems 

 to be — keep asteris (and I might also add umbratica) dry, for you cannot 

 bring them out before their time ; but leave chamomillm buried in 

 damp sandy soil. — (Rev.) A. M. Moss ; 12, Greenside, Kendal. 



Curious Instance of " Assembling." — I thought perhaps the fol- 

 lowing might prove of some interest. On August 2nd, 1896, a female 

 specimen of Orgyia antiqua emerged in the breeding-cage in my bed- 

 room. The window of the room was closed, but on going into it about 

 4 p.m. I was surprised to find three males of 0. antiqua flying wildly 

 about. The door was open, and the only open window was on the 

 staircase about six stairs further down, and at right angles to the wall 

 of my room, in which the door is. The window was only open three 

 or four inches. — F. M. B. Carr ; 46, Handen Road, Lee, S.E. 



Larva Devouring Dead Moth. — In looking through my diary for 

 1897, I see the following note on a larva of Chelonia (Arctia) caia. I 

 placed a good-sized larva of C. caia in a box containing a dead female 

 Amphidasys betularia, and forgot to put in any food for it. When I 

 opened the box next day I found that the larva had nearly entirely 

 demolished the wings of the dead moth, and had also eaten part of the 

 body.— F. M. B. Carr. 



The Preservation of Wicken Fen. — In an interesting article in 

 ' Science Gossip ' for March, Mr. Herbert Goss asks for the co- 

 operation of naturalists in assisting the National Trust to secure such 

 portions of Wicken Fen as may be offered for sale from time to time. 



