THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 3C5 



Irouble to operate on him with a large-sized pin. The body 

 and thorax are a little rubbed, and no wonder when we con- 

 sider the mode of capture. I have the insect in my care at 

 present. — IVm. Hydes ; Bagshazv's Buildings, Park Spring, 

 Sheffield, October, 1867. 



Geographical Range of Nyssia zonaria. — This moth, 

 which on account of the apterous condition of the female 

 has long been considered one of the most interesting species 

 inhabiting the Wallasey sand-hills, appears to have a some- 

 what extended range along the coast. Some years ago it 

 swarmed at Wallasey, and then became scarce ; it is now, 

 however, pretty abundant there. It has, I believe, been 

 found in the neighbourhood of Hoylake. Crossing the Dee, 

 I have taken the larva? near the Point of Air. Between these 

 two places, however, it occurs in a very singular locality. 

 My friend Mr. Brockholes informs me that he has found the 

 species in plenty on the salt-marsh up the Dee, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Puddington, at a spot occasionally overflowed 

 by the tide. When the water floods their habitat the insects 

 are to be seen creeping up palings, &c., out of reach. Pro- 

 ceeding along the coast from the Point of Air, I have once 

 found the larva) near Prestatyn, and have taken them freely 

 on the sand-hills close to Rhyl. This summer, while ento- 

 mologising on the small sandy plain on the left bank of the 

 river Conway, where it reaches the sea, I found the full-fed 

 larvae in abundance. Along the coast to the north of Liver- 

 pool the range of the species appears to be more limited. 

 For several years none but the winged males were found on 

 the Crosby sand-hills, and these were supposed to have 

 flown across from New Brighton. Several attempts were 

 made to slock the sand-hills with larvro brought from the 

 other side of the river. Whether from this or from natural 

 causes, I understand that the species is now somewhat plen- 

 tiful in that locality. — F. Archer, jun., in ' Liverpool Natu- 

 ralists' Journal ' Jbr August. 



The Silkworm in China. — Mr. Rutherford Alcock has for- 

 warded the translation of a curious document on this subject, 

 issued by the Chinese officials in Fuhkicn. It provides that 

 the waste lands shall be planted with mulberry trees, and 

 that " persons can, if they please, combine the occupation of 

 mulberry-growers and silkworm-rearers, or grow mulberries 



