THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 83 



Transmission of Insects by Post. — This is so unsatisfactory 

 at present, and so frequently reflects vexation on both sender 

 and recipient, that, until a new generation of officials arises, 

 I would advise entomologists to relinquish it, at least as far 

 as larvae and imagos are concerned. Pupse may be packed 

 so as to travel safely, if the box be strong, and the " padding- 

 in" be done carefully; and eggs will rarely take any harm, 

 if enclosed in quills or small metal tubes. — /. R. S. Clifford ; 

 59, Robert Street, Chelsea. 



Abundance of Trichoptera. — From our situation so near 

 the river, we have usually a su))ply of various caddis-flies in 

 this neighbourhood ; but during the past week the enclosed 

 species has appeared in such incredible numbers that I think 

 their occurrence worthy of notice. .1 did not notice their 

 abundance till Sunday, the 7th inst., and on the three 

 following days they seemed to increase in numbers; for on 

 Wednesday, the 10th, the air seemed literally full, and this 

 not by the river only, but in the streets there were countless 

 thousands of this particular insect. It would be interesting 

 to know whether the species has been universally abundant 

 in other localities as well as here. The meadows near the 

 river have been flooded during much of the past season; but 

 whether the inundation combined with a mild winter has 

 proved favourable to the development of these insects, is a 

 question I must leave to be answered by any kind brother 

 entomologist, whose knowledge of this class of insects must 

 of necessity be superior to my own, as I have never paid any 

 decided attention to them. 1 may here state, that after the 

 10th inst. there was a great falling off" in their numbers; and 

 now the insects are no commoner than usual. — G. B. Corbin. 



The insects sent are Glossosoma Boltoni of Curtis. 



Hybernation of Bombyx Rubi.- — Mr. Clifford's experience 

 differs some little from my own with regard to these larvae 

 (Entom. 100, p. 15). Those I have reared, as a rule, hyber- 

 nated on the surface of the earth, underneath the moss, &c., 

 prepared for them at the bottom of the rearing-box ; and I 

 have, on more than one occasion, found a larva in the winter, 

 under the dead leaves on a hedge-bank ; and in each case 

 the larva was in a slightly contracted ring, and to all appear- 

 ance full grown. It is very true that it is a species which 

 does not hybernate till very late in the season ; in fact. 



