296 the entomologist. 



Abundance of Sphinx convolvuli at Bournemouth. — 

 Lepidopterists in this part of the country will probably long 

 remember the autumn of 1885 as the " Convolvuli yea.r." The 

 specimens of this species which have been seen and captured in 

 this locality far exceed in number those of any season for at least 

 twenty years. The long dry summer seems to have been 

 peculiarly favourable to the development of the larger Sphingidse 

 generally. From an early date in August till about the middle of 

 September Si^hinx convolvuli was taken plentifully, both at rest in 

 the daytime and on the wing at night, in all parts of the town. 

 During this time I alone netted over three dozen fine specimens 

 hovering over flowers both in my own and in our public gardens ; 

 and altogether I venture to say that not less than a hundred have 

 been taken in various ways in this neighbourhood. Sugared 

 bouquets of flowers, consisting chiefly of honeysuckle, geraniums 

 (pale), and petunias, I found to be a most attractive bait; and I 

 would strongly recommend the adoption of this plan to collectors 

 who cannot get access to any large beds of flowers. In fact, 

 judging from my own experience, had I been able to procure 

 honeysuckle in sufficient quantity, I certainly should have confined 

 myself mainly to this kind of bait. I noticed that white and pale- 

 coloured flowers were far more attractive than those of deeper 

 hues. I attribute this simply to the fact that the former are more 

 conspicuous at night than the latter. Has anyone ever detected 

 any sound proceed from the rapid vibration of the wings of this 

 moth during its hovering flight ? I listened most carefully, but 

 in no instance did my ear detect the slightest whirr or sound of 

 any kind. My opinion is that its flight is perfectly noiseless. 

 I am sorry to add that I failed to obtain any eggs, although I kept 

 five likely females alive for some time for this purpose. We have 

 instances on record of eggs being obtained in the autumn (Entom. 

 vi. 545, xviii. 259) ; but as no subsequent mention of the larvae from 

 the former eggs is made, we may be justified in assuming that they 

 were not fertilized. I believe it is asserted by some entomological 

 authorities that Sphinx convolvuli do not pair until after hyberna- 

 tion, and my experience favours this conclusion. I have, however, 

 a strong suspicion that in this country very few, if any, of the 

 moths survive the winter. Is it not more probable that part of 

 the pupae remain through the winter, emerging the following May 

 or June, and that copulation takes place between the sexes of 



