NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 249 
cocoa-nut fibre, where they remained for the winter and spring. 
At the end of May they were deposited in moss in the breeding- 
cage, which was kept in our little conservatory. However, on 
July 20th I was much pleased to see a fine specimen had come 
out; some days later there was another. On the 26th, three ; 
one unfortunately with one of the anterior wings slightly 
deformed. After four days, again another made its appearance ; 
and on the 8rd August two more. All of them were females, 
and each insect was a veritable squeaker. ‘To kill them I always 
catch hold of them at the base of the wings, and apply a camel’s- 
hair brush steeped in chloroform to the proboscis, a proceeding 
to which they strongly object, crying out as loudly as possible 
against it. A fact worth recording occurred, when on the 
last-mentioned date the two specimens were in the cage together. 
No sooner had I caught hold of the one moth, and it had 
commenced squeaking out its protestations, than its companion 
crawled on to my fingers, and could with difficulty be disengaged ; 
but not thinking the wings of this one sufficiently dried, I did 
not then wish to put it to death, and gave it accordingly a brief 
respite. From the circumstance just narrated it would appear 
that the cry is distinguished as a means of communication 
between the insects. I think there is no doubt that the sound 
is caused by the proboscis rubbing against the palpi, though 
I am disposed to believe that the friction of some parts of 
the thorax may have somewhat to do with it. But as I have 
previously stated—and each time that I have repeated the 
experiment the experience was confirmatory—as soon as the 
proboscis is pressed down the squeaking ceases. Up to the 
present time no more moths have emerged.—JosEPH ANDERSON, 
jun.; Chichester, August 10, 1886. 
ACHERONTIA ATROPOS.—I was fortunate enough to secure 
three larve of the above last autumn; two died in the winter in 
the pupa state; and on July 24th a perfect specimen emerged 
from the remaining one. Is not this very late ?—W. EK. Buren; 
91, Chatham Street, Reading, August 10, 1886. 
SPHINX CONVOLVULI IN ABERDEENSHIRE.—On 6th September 
a fine female specimen of the above species was captured, and 
brought to me by my brother, who found it sitting among grass 
at the road-side near Pitcaple-—W. Rerp; Pitcaple, Aberdeen, N.B. 
ENTOM.—ocrT., 1886. 2K 
