114 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vesjja vuhjaris, V. gerntanica, and T^ rufa, common, from flowers of 

 Cotoneaster. V. arborea; I took six females, all from ihe above plant, 

 but have never yet seen a male. V. syivestrls, common, from flowers 

 of Cotoneaster. V. norvegica [hrittunica), scarce, from flowers of 

 Cotoneaster. 



— K. Newstead ; The Grosveiior Museum, Chester, February 

 23, 1887. 



Macrocentrus infirmus bred from Hydrcecia petasitis. — 

 In August, 1885, Mr. Pierce, of Liverpool, very kindly sent me 

 a batch of cocoons, which he found in the stem of a burdock, in 

 which Hydroecia petasitis had been feeding, and last autumn sent 

 me a similar batch ; I obtained, on September 9th, 1885, from 

 the first batch 175 females, and from the last 122 males of 

 Macrocentrus infirmus. It is often observed that when breeding 

 from batches of Braconidae cocoons that only one sex is pro- 

 duced ; this has been particularly noticed with Macrocentrus 

 linearis and collaris, their long ovipositors make the female so 

 very conspicuous. — G. C. Bignell ; Stonehouse, February 15, 

 1887. 



Xestobium tessellatum, F., at Sunbury. — On July 5th 

 last, while in quest of Coleoptera, I noticed that several of the 

 willow trees growing in this district had been recentl}^ perforated 

 with rather large holes. Having a small chisel, I quickly removed 

 portions of the bark and examined the decayed wood, and was 

 eventually successful in finding two excellent specimens of 

 this curious beetle. — G. A. Lewcock; 40, Oxford Road, 

 Islington, N. 



Packing unset Lepidoptera. — Can any one tell me the best 

 method of packing unset foreign Lepidoptera ? as I have a friend 

 who wishes to send me some from Africa.— George H. Smith; 

 The Theological College, Dorchester, near Wallingford, Oxon, 

 February 24, 1887. 



[Butterflies merely require to be i)laced, with their wings 

 closed, in envelopes or small paper packets. They are killed by 

 pinching the under side of the thorax. The papers, with their 

 contents, should then be packed closely in tin boxes and sent 

 home. — W. L. Distant.] 



The Preservation of Small Larv.e.— Some few months 

 ago I wrote a short query respecting this question, but it elicited 



