THE 5i;NT0M0L0GIST. 325 



272. Acherontia Atropos near Luton. — Tlie larvae of Ache- 

 rontia Atropos have been frequently met with in this neigh- 

 bourhood this season. I send this notice because none of 

 the correspondents who reported concerning it in the last 

 number of the ' Entomologist' reside in this part of the king- 

 dom. The notion of its being a locust prevails among the 

 lower glasses here, as well as in other places, — [AV?;.] P. H. 

 Jennings; Lilley Rectory, Luton, October 11, 18G5. 



273. AcJiero7itin Atropos : males and barren females bred. 

 — Out of seven larvae 1 had of this moth during July, and 

 which buried in due course, five have emerged in the perfect 

 state during September, two males and three females, per- 

 fectly eggless. Another of the latter kind, caught on the 

 blind of an open window, was brought to nie to-day. — 

 J. Merrin ; Gloucester, October 3, 1865. 



274. On the mode in which Acherontia Atropos makes its 

 Noise. — Having bred many death's-head moths, on hearing 

 one make the noise I minutely examined it, and discovered 

 an aperture under the superior wing, through which (by 

 respiration) it makes the noise. The aperture is covered with 

 a set of hairs, which the moth opens and depresses at will. 

 When making the noise the hairs are thrown open, and form 

 a trumpet-shaped opening like the bottom of a flageolet. 

 When the noise ceases the hairs are depressed, and lie even 

 with the body. — E. A. Johnson, Percy Cottage, Northum- 

 berland Park, in the ''Field'' Newspaper, October 14, 1865. 



[This is extremely interesting, but requires confirmation : 

 as stated by Mr. Johnson it would appear that, as in our- 

 selves, there is a connexion between the organs of respiration 

 and voice, — a fact not yet ascertained as regards tracheal 

 re sp i rati on . — Edwa rd Newni an.^ 



275. Sphinx Conrolvuli at Hamsgate. — While staying at 

 Ram'^gate 1 had a very faded specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli 

 brought me on the 6th of September: it was taken at rest on 

 a post. This insect does not seem to have been so abun- 

 dant this year as might have been expected. — Edwin 

 Curzon ; Grove House, Tooting, Surrey. 



276. Barren Females of Acherontia Atropos. — In a com- 

 munication addressed to the ' Entomologist,' last month, on 

 this subject, Mr. Andrews writes (Entom. 296) : — " Are we to 

 understand from Mr. Nevvn)an's life-history ol the species 



