THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Vou. XXYV.] NOVEMBER, 1892. [No. 354. 
PLUSIA MONETA BRED IN ENGLAND, 
By Gervase F. Maruew, F.L.S., F.E.S., &c. 
From August 5th to September 16th I was staying at Frinsted 
Rectory with all my family, and during that time had frequent 
opportunities of collecting in the neighbourhood. Frinsted is 
prettily situated upon high ground about five miles from Sitting- 
bourne, and commands extensive views of the surrounding 
country. On September 3rd I received the ‘ Kntomologist,’ 
where I read that Plusia moneta had again been captured at 
Tunbridge Wells, which, as the crow flies, is only about twenty- 
two miles from Frinsted. It was taken on July 13th, and another 
at Alton on the 12th; and as it is a double-brooded species, 
I thought at this time larve or pupe might be found. 
There were several large clumps of monkshood in the garden, 
so I went out at once, and on the very first plant I found a 
cocoon, spun up and quite exposed, upon the under side of a leaf. 
It was evidently a Plusia cocoon, was oval in shape, quite com- 
pact, and of a pale straw-colour—not a carelessly-made, flimsy 
thing like that of P. gamma, which has usually a deal of loose 
silk outside the cocoon, and, moreover, is generally enclosed in 
bits of its food-plant. Holding the cocoon up to the light, I could 
plainly perceive a Plusia pupa within, which, when the cocoon 
was touched, became very lively, and I felt convinced that what 
TI held in my hand was no other than the cocoon of P. moneta, 
and of course was immensely pleased at my good fortune. 
After this I searched all the other plants in the garden, but 
only found one more cocoon, which was of a slightly paler colour 
than the first, but just as compact, and containing a lively 
pupa. While looking for the cocoons I noticed several larve 
of S. lubricipeda and H. oleracea feeding upon the monkshood. 
The 8rd of September was a Saturday, and upon going into my 
dressing-room, at seven o’clock on Monday morning and looking 
into the box containing the two cocoons, I was delighted to see 
ENTOM.—NOy. 1892. 2B 
