THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 51 



met with but two specimens of Rubiginea in the autumn — I 

 took a hybernated specimen last spring, — and these were 

 both taken on unusually cold nights, and when scarcely any- 

 other species were to be seen. Is it usual for this handsome 

 species to be thus met with ? I did not see either Petriiicata 

 or Semibrunnea at the ivy, though, in previous seasons, I 

 have occasionally taken a single specimen of each. — G. B. 

 Corhin. 



Acheroniia Atropos. — Was this insect unusually scarce last 

 season ? I generally find, or have brought to me, specimens 

 either in the larva or pupa state, from the beginning of July 

 to the end of September; but last season I did not see a 

 specimen at all. 1 am aware there is not much regularity in 

 its appearance, as, indeed, is the case with other species, but 

 possibly the experience of other collectors might coincide 

 with mine with regard to the occurrence of this particular 

 species. The agricultural community in this neighbourhood 

 call the larvae of Atropos, " locusts," — in fact, that name is 

 applied generally to large larvae, — and the pupa is, in many 

 cases, supposed to be a most dire enemy to the potato crop, 

 and is, as a rule, doomed to be destroyed as soon as 

 disinterred. — Id. 



[1 have elsewhere noticed that the larvae of Atropos are 

 generally known by our agricultural population as locusts. — 

 Edioard Newman.^ 



Early appearance of P. pilosaria. — Whilst out " digging" 

 to-day 1 met with two males of the above, which is some two 

 weeks earlier than before noticed here. A fortnight since 1 

 had a fine Chamomillae out in my breeding-box, which is kept 

 in-doors. — R. Kay ; Biiri/, February 3, 1871. 



Earliness of the Season. — Last evening, while out with my 

 friend, Mr. A. N. Innes, hunting for larvae, I noticed that 

 Larentia multistrigaria was on the wing rather freely. Surely 

 this is remarkably early ? We took eight, filling all the boxes 

 we had, as we went out quite unprepared to see so many 

 moths flying about. The weather here, since the beginning 

 of December, has been mild and very wet. In some sheltered 

 places whitethorn bushes are already in leaf, and 1 saw 

 sallows in bloom nearly three weeks ago. — Gervase F. 

 Mathew ; Admiralty House, Devonport, February 8, 1872. 



Deiopeia pulchella on the Hampshire coast. — \ our book 



