302 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



but I have not heard of any captures in that locality for many 

 years. About ten years ago I found the species very sparingly 

 distributed on parts of the Cotsvvold Hills, a few miles from 

 Gloucester and Cheltenham, and captures have been since 

 then occasionally recorded ; subsequently it has been taken 

 at about fifteen u)iles distance. Some years ago I received 

 several specimens which were taken about six miles from 

 Kingsbridge, Devon ; and there is no doubt the species 

 woidd be met with, if looked for at the right season, in 

 several other localities; but these localities are generally of 

 the most uninviting description — bleak, elevated grouud, 

 broken up by deserted quarries, thinly clothed with vege- 

 tation, among which the wild thyme is the most conspicuous. 

 Thse are the places, " far from the haunts of men," where 

 P. Arion loves to gambol, and with its fragrant food-plant to 

 " w aste its sweetness in the desert air," with now and then 

 an escort in the shape of P. Alexis?, Alsus, or Agestis. Last 

 summer the locality I had previously worked yielded the 

 insect in more abundance than usual ; and although I tried 

 to obtain eggs from captured pairs, 1 did not succeed. This 

 year 1, as well as some others, have been more fortunate. 

 Curiously enough, although some two or three dozen were 

 taken hero last summer, the species has turned up this year 

 niuch more abundant than ever. This Hush of specimens has 

 enabled us to be more prodigal in iuiprisoning likely-looking 

 females, with a view to their oviposition. Mr. Marsden sent 

 some, with the native thyme, to Mr. Buckler; and in a few 

 days we received the welcome intelligence that a few eggs 

 had been laid on the blossoms. I am glad to say that I also 

 have succeeded in obtaining a fair number of eggs, and Mr. 

 Marsden has also got some, lliey are laid on the corolla, 

 generally at the base, often on faded Howers. Is this any 

 indication that the larvae feed on the seeds ? They are of a 

 beautiful bird's-egg-green colour. When they hatch, whether 

 ihey hyberuale, and other details of their history, will now 

 piobably be duly forthcoming, if we are fortunate enough to 

 rear the species, which seems to have been as much over- 

 looked by continental as by English entomologists. The 

 recent publication of the fact that Professor Zeller saw a 

 female Arion deposit her eggs on the blossoms of the wild 

 thyme, gave, us the key as to what attraction to offer to the 



