NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 115 



it, it emitted a shrill ciy, which continued without ceasing 

 vmtil I put it in my killing-box. This box is a close-fitting tin 

 one, with a false bottom of perforated zinc. Being a large moth 

 I dropped thirteen or fourteen drops of chloroform into the box, 

 and kept it close between two and a half and three hours, at the 

 expiration of which time, on opening the box, the chloroform was 

 unpleasantl^y strong, and the moth to all appearance dead. I cut 

 it open, eviscerated it, stuffed it with cotton-wool, and put it on 

 the setting- board. To my astonishment, on inspecting it the 

 following morning, it was quite lively, and, had the pin through 

 the thorax not been a ver}^ strong one, would have liberated itself. 

 I killed it by soaking it in benzoline, which, by-the-bye, I find the 

 quickest and cheapest mode for all moths, and one doing them no 

 damage. — Annie Dows ; Boston, Lincolnshire. 



[We doubt whether the method of killing Lepidoptera recom- 

 mended by our correspondent is the best; some of the older 

 systems are less likely to damage the specimens, — the vapour of 

 ammonia for instance. — Ed.] 



Chceeocampa celerio in December. — On December 1st, 

 1880, I captured a specimen of C. celerio at Faversham. Not 

 knowing what moth it was I did not attach much importance to 

 it, until Mr. Waterhouse told me its name. I wish your readers 

 to note the late season of capture of this rare species. — P. M. 

 Yearsley; 1, St. Margaret's Terrace, Kilburn, March 20, 1881. 



Description of the larva of Attacus luna. — The pre- 

 vailing colour of its body is light green, and the segments are 

 adorned at regular intervals with tubercles of various sizes, from 

 each of which spring clusters of minute bristles, in shape somewhat 

 resembling spiked clubs ; the tubercles on the 3rd and 4th segments 

 are bright yellow, interspersed with black bristles or spines, and 

 are situated on the top of conical protuberances, projections of 

 the segments, which, being raised considerably above the dorsal 

 tubercles, are most imposing and regal in appearance; the tubercles 

 on the 11th and 12th segments are pale green with black spines, 

 and similarly raised, one notably so in the centre of the latter 

 segment, but less imposing in character ; the tubercles on the 

 intermediate segments are bright red and spinous ; a light yellow 

 lateral stripe, slashed at intervals with paler red, runs along either 

 side of the body, above which are situated the peculiar oval-shaped 

 red spiracles ; there is a row of minute red tubercles, lessening in 



