306 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Malformation of Lepidoptera. — From larvae of Cidaria 

 testata found on heather, but which preferred sallow in confine- 

 ment, most of the specimens which emerged wanted one or other 

 hind wing, and one specimen both hind wings ; otherwise they 

 were perfectly developed, and fine and well-marked specimens. 

 What was the cause of this ? It certainly was not lack of food, 

 or handling the pupae. — C. H. Sladen ; Burghclere, Newbury, 

 October 5, 1887. 



Catocala fraxini in Hertfordshire. — On Friday, Sept. 

 23rd, a specimen of C. fraxini was brought to me ; it had been 

 picked up on a path, under some ivy which had been trimmed in 

 the course of the day. Unfortunately it has suffered from rough 

 treatment. — R. W. Bowyer; Haileybury, Hertford, Sept. 25, 1887. 



Catocala sponsa in Kent and Hants. — On September 1st, 

 while sugaring in a wood near Blackheath, I took C. sjjonsa; it was 

 on the sugar the same time as C nupta. Although I sugared 

 night after night, both before and after, I saw no more sponsa. 

 I may mention I had just returned from the New Forest, where 

 C. sponsa was swarming this year ; C. promissa was common, but 

 about one to ten sponsa. It was a sight to see sponsa flying high 

 up round the oak trees long before the sun set. No sooner was 

 the sugar on the trees, when there were at least four or five 

 sponsa on each. — William Dannatt ; Ivy Dene, Westcombe 

 Park, Blackheath, S.E., October, J 887. 



Catephiaalchymista. — It may be advisable to warn the readers 

 of the ' Entomologist ' that Catephia alchymisfa will probably 

 be pretty abundant next year. A continental dealer has obtained 

 the pupae freely enough to off"er at from Is. 6d. to 3s. 6d, each 

 to many of our British collectors. I should not have mentioned 

 the fact, but I saw (Entom. 239) that one had been already 

 captured on the south coast. Of course the capture may be 

 genuine, but under the circumstances confirmation is certainly 

 required. So far, I believe, there are only two British records — 

 one specimen mentioned in Newman's ' British Moths,' the other 

 captured by Mr. Davis, of Dover, and recorded Entom. xv. 162. 

 —J. W. Tutt; Blackheath, September 20, 1887. 



Notes from the Forest. — I am glad to be able to say that 

 the Catocaladse have at last been again abundant. During the 



