THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 101 



during the present year reared a number of Sraerinthus 

 Populi and S. ocellatus larvae from the egg, I can bear tes- 

 timony that this genus change their skin, though in a some- 

 what different manner to others. I have noticed, in all, three 

 changes ; the first takes place when the larvoe are about half 

 an inch long, the second when one inch, and the third when 

 from one inch and a quarter to one inch and a half. When 

 about to change tlieir skin the larvae cease feeding for two or 

 three days ; the body becomes attenuated, tlie head swells 

 and appears to start away from the body. If the larva is now 

 observed through a lens, the head will be seen gradually 

 swelling ont of the old cap, and the skin breaking up between 

 each segment and along the spiracles. The cap is thrown 

 off first, by itself, and may be found among the rubbish in 

 the breeding-cage. The rest of the skin is extremely thin, 

 and may sometimes be found rolled up like a jiiece of thread. 

 1'hese changes, taking place mostly in the night, are seldom 

 observed, though the larva may sometimes be seen during the 

 day making painful efforts to free itself from the old cap. 

 Three-fourths of my young larvae perished in their first moult, 

 not being able to free themselves from the old head-covering. 

 I do not restrict the number of changes to three, but that is 

 all I have observed. Others may have noticed a greater num- 

 ber. — Henry Moncreaff ; Sou f //sect, September 6, 1804. 



4G. Taking Moths on the Trunks of Trees. — Can you 

 inform me of the best method of captsuing moths when on 

 the trunks of trees ? I find that the rotundity of the trunk in 

 most cases precludes the possibility of getting the insect into 

 a net; "pill-boxing" injures the wings, and the only other 

 way with which 1 am acquainted is that of covering the 

 insect with a box, in which are some bruised laureldeaves, 

 until stupified ; this takes too much time, for while you are 

 holding the box a rarity may settle on the opposite tree, and 

 only an Entomologist can know how tantalizing this is. I 

 should therefore feel greatly obliged by your telling me of a 

 more practical and expeditions method than either of those 

 which I have described. — William Gibson; Park/iurst, Isle 

 of Wight, September 17, 1864. 



fl know of no way to be compared with "pill-boxing," 

 either for expedition or security, and I have never before 

 heard of any injury to the wings by the operation. But I 



