NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 137 



NOTES AND OBSEEVATIONS. 



Hibernation of Aglais urtic^. — In my note on this subject 

 (antea, p. 68), and in the corroborative evidence offered by Mr. E. M. 

 Nimmy (p. 89) and the Eev. H. D. Ford (ibid.), attention is drawn to 

 the social habit of this species during hibernation. A further 

 point appears to be raised by some further observations made in 

 Devon and Cornwall during the month of April. Will A. urticce 

 attempt re-hibernation after the normal spring emergence has been 

 completed ? The weather turned bitterly cold thoughout Great 

 Britain, and in little less degree in the extreme west, on April 26th. 

 At Penzance, late on the 27th, violent storms of hail burst on the 

 town, accompanied by some snow and rain, and a veritable tornado 

 from the north, which continued for nearly three days. Hibernating 

 A.urticcB had been very common in the open in all parts of Devon 

 visited prior to this date. I saw none at Penzance or St. Ives, but 

 the bedroom I occupied at Bodmin on the 29-30th was invaded by 

 this butterfly. And when I returned to Exeter next day I was 

 informed that St. Nicholas Priory, the extremely interesting and 

 well-restored relic of the monastic age, was " full of small Tortoise- 

 shells." I am not aware that butterflies, as a rule, seek shelter from 

 hard weather in houses, sheds, etc., when once on the Vv^ing. In ray 

 opinion, therefore, it is not improbable that, with the sudden return 

 to arctic conditions, the female urticcz, with her eggs still unlaid, 

 was disposed to resume hibernation against an improvement of 

 external temperature. I may add that indoors I picked up one or 

 two dead examples, but there is, of course, no evidence to prove that 

 they had succumbed to the then existing cold, or had died during 

 normal hibernation, and been overlooked, if ever the room in 

 question where I found them had been "spring-cleaned." — H. 

 Eowland-Brown. 



J. J. Lister on Hodgkinson's Eecord of P. ^gon in Tutt's 

 ' British Butterflies.' — I think we must admit that the conclu- 

 sions Mr. J. J. Lister arrives at re Hodgkinson's record of P. 

 agon on Whitbarrow by Tutt are correct. I have collected with 

 Hodgkinson and found him a most capable entomologist, but I can 

 well believe that in writing out his notes he might deceive Tutt 

 unknowingly, and Tutt, not being conversant with that part of the 

 country, might easily pass it over. Jliiving at Preston, Hodgkinson 

 was within easy reach of Withersluck and district, and he knew 

 every inch of the country. As regards the insect fauna there was no 

 one living at that time who had a tithe of his knowledge, and I am 

 certain that if anyone had asked him if he had ever taken P. cegon 

 in Whitbarrow he would have laughed at him and would want to 

 know who he was getting at. — Herbert Massey ; Ivy Lea, Burnage, 

 Didsbury. 



Formaldehyde for " Mould " on Insects. — A year ago I wrote 

 you if you could suggest a cure for " mould " on specimens of 

 Lepidoptera. Since then it was suggested to me by Dr. Winstan P. A. 

 StJohn to try 40 per cent, formaldehyde in the form of vapour 

 by soaking a piece of cotton-wool and placing it in an airtight box 

 ENTOM. JUNK, 1919. N 



