NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 125 
S. ligustri have since died. The larva in question died six days 
after moulting (I could see all its motions, as it spun up against 
the glass in an ordinary breeding-cage), and exuded a brown fluid 
from the head. I fear it perished from over attention, as the 
S. ligustrt in a more open space did very well. Has anyone 
noticed the lateness of some larve last year? I found S. ligustri on 
October 5th and another on October 27th on privet hedges.— 
Dover Epeett; Firle, Lewes. 
ACHERONTIA ATROPOS.—On the 2nd day of September last 
year I had a larva of A. atropos brought me. I placed it in a 
breeding-case with about two inches depth of earth. It burrowed 
in about four days. After about a week I put the case near a 
stove on some pipes heated with hot water, keeping the earth 
moist. It remained there until the 29th day of November, on 
which day a small but perfect specimen emerged.—A. Druitt ; 
Christchurch, Hants. [The pupe of A. atropos are seldom lost 
if forced forward in the autumn by gentle and moist heat, and 
usually produce average-sized moths.—IEp. | 
Hapits or ACHERONTIA ATROPOS.—In reply to Mr. Jefferys’ 
question as to the rearing of A. atropos (Hntom. 64), I may say 
that last autumn, as well as previously, I have had some 
experience with the larve. In a state of nature, I believe the 
moths always emerge in the autumn, but when the pupa is kept 
under artificial conditions the moth often appears in early spring. 
From observations among my friends, I find that only about one 
moth in ten emerges, and they all complain of the difficulty of 
rearing them. Under natural circumstances the caterpillar spins 
a cocoon in the soil, which protects the pupa from irritation 
and dryness. I find the best way is to allow the caterpillar to 
burrow naturally in the garden or some convenient place, and 
then to put a vessel or netting over it. The great desideratum 
is to keep the atmosphere moist. I have sometimes found putting 
the pupa in bran or fine sawdust answer well, but the best 
method of albis that applied in the garden.—Herserr E. Norris ; 
St. Ives, Hunts, March 19, 1886. 
Forcina Pups or ACHERONTIA ATROPOS.—lor many years I 
have occasionally tried to rear A. atropos from larva or pupa, and 
have always failed until this year. The larve were unusually 
common in this neighbourhood last autumn, one friend telling 
