238 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



out and secured with paper, and it was not at all badly set. It was 

 discovered by Mr. Basil W. Cook, the eldest boy, who found it the 

 day before yesterday in their garden as it was resting on the leaves 

 of a small branch that had recently been lopped off a sycamore tree. 

 Unfortunately it had been killed with ammonia, which had destroyed 

 the beautiful green colour and changed it to a pinkish-brown, but 

 otherwise it is a fair specimen. As the moth was still in a limp, 

 relaxed condition, I was able to re-pin and re-set it on a proper setting 

 board, and I think it will make a decent specimen when it is taken 

 off. These boys have only just started collecting. It is extra- 

 ordinary what luck beginners have. One of my first captures, when 

 I was a small boy in September, 1855, was Sphinx convolvuli flying 

 before honeysuckle, and at that time considered a rare species. — 

 Gbrvase F. Mathew ; Dovercourt, September 4th, 1919. 



Aberrations of Coccinella 7-punctula. — This beetle has been 

 more abundant than usual here this summer. Amongst them I have 

 noticed one specimen each of two well-marked varieties. In the 

 first case the posterior spot on each elytron was missing, leaving five 

 spots, of which the two anterior were reduced in size. In the second 

 example these had also entirely disappeared, so that in addition to 

 the central black mark there was only one well-marked spot in the 

 centre of each elytron. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the 

 variations of this species to know if these observations are worth 

 recording. — E. Whitley ; Park Field, Paignton, S. Devon. 



Vespa crabro. — Hornets seem very common in the New Forest 

 this summer (1919). The lepidopterist's sugar is much frequented. 

 In the day-time, at least, the insects come for the sugar itself. It may 

 be that at night such delicacies as Thyatira derasa or T. batis con- 

 stitute as great an attraction for them as for the sugarer ! — W. J. 

 Lucas. 



Orthoptkra in Dorsetshire. — The Orthoptera of this neighbour- 

 hood (Wareham district) appear to present no feature of outstanding 

 interest ; but the following records as a local list may throw light 

 on distribution. The non-occurrence of species may be as significant 

 and interesting as their greater or less plenty. Labia minor, Linn., 

 and Forficida auricular ia, Linn., are our only Forficulodea. Of the 

 Blattodea, Ectobius panzeri, Steph.,and E.perspicillaris, Herbst.,.are 

 common on heath and rough places by the coast. Blatta orientaUs, 

 Linn., is abundant as usual in houses. Gryllodea : The fine cricket, 

 Gryllotalya cjryllotalpa, Linn., has been found in potato plots in the 

 vicinity, and been disturbed, when hibernating in manure for the 

 sake of warmth in autumn, in our garden, Gryllus doviesticus, Linn., 

 is, I fear, less common than formerly, and its chirp has ceased by our 

 kitchen hearth where it used to sing. Grasshoppers are extremely 

 numerous in individuals. Locustodea : Leptophyes punctatissima, 

 Bosc, is frequent in bushy places, and Conocephakis dor satis, Latr., 

 occurs at Arne and Bloxworth. Phasgonura viridissima, Linn., is 

 plentiful along the coast among nettles and rough vegetation, 

 extending a mile or two inland in suitable localities on the downs. 

 I have just seen a specimen taken as far from the coast as Lower 



