THE ENTOxMOLOGIST. 303 



females we might find in " an interesting condition ;" and we 

 may now hope to succeed in unravelling the mystery uhicli 

 obscines the early life of this peculiar species. — Jos^epli 

 JMerrin ; Gloinesfer, June 25, 1869. 



Stnuropus Fniji in Iticliinond Park. — It may interest some 

 of your readers to hear that I yesterday evening took a fine 

 female specimen of Stauropus Fagi, while at rest on the 

 palings in Richmond Park. I am surprised to find this rarity 

 so near London. 1 intend keeping the moth for three or four 

 days, in hope ofobtaiidng eggs. — J. A. Edwards ; 4, Chandus 

 Street, West Strand, W.G., July 7, 1869. 



Noctua/i on Stin<jing Nettles. — The Rev. J. Greene, in his 

 ' Insect Hunter's Companion,' observes that on certain nights, 

 and in i'avourable localities, the green leaves of stinging 

 nettles are found to be peopled with moths ; he adds that he 

 could not imagine what attracti(jn possibly exists for them. 

 During the last few weeks 1 have searched the nettles in our 

 neighbourhood with a lantern on every mild evening, and can 

 fully corroborate his statement as to the presence of the 

 moths, but 1 believe I have also been fortunate en(nigh to 

 discover the attraction. Nettles, as well as other plants, are 

 subject to the attack of Aphides; indeed it is very difficult to 

 find a nettle-leaf whose under side is not covered with them. 

 It is well known that Aphides excrete a sweet liuipid licpiid, 

 which s()metiu)es accumulates in sufficient quantity to drop 

 on to the leaves below, producing a glazed appearance and 

 a coating of a sticky substance known as "honey-dew." It is 

 to imbibe this liquid, of which ants are so fond, that the 

 mollis assemble. This I believe to be a rational explanation 

 of the fact, since I found molhs on the sticky leaves only, 

 and indeed could see them shifting their trunks from one 

 part of the leaf to another as they sucked up the " dew." 

 Where the liquid had been formed in sufficient quantity to 

 collect into a drop at the end of the leaf, there would be two 

 or three insects busily sipi)ing the nectar. I may add that I 

 have seen molhs on oiher Aphis-infested plants, red and 

 black currant-bushes, &c. We ihus see that, ages before we 

 had concocted our "rum and sugar" wherewith to paint the 

 tree-trunks. Nature had spread her feast lor the Nocluas. 

 Hitherto I have not laken any rarities in such situalions. — 

 R. Mildola ; Park Place, Ley ton. 



