IIO ENTOMOLOGICAL REPORTS. 



protected than usual from the attacks of their four-footed and 

 feathered enemies, and therefore more of them survived the winter. 

 This explanation does not apply to the Dragon-fly, however. 



Last year was also exceptional on account of the number and 

 variety of insects that were seen in the centre of the city. Besides 

 the Copper, already mentioned, the following, amongst others, were 

 seen : — Pieris brassiccz, P. rapce, P. napi, Vanessa atalanta, 

 V. urtiae, Lyaena alexis, Smerinthus populi, Hepialus humuli, 

 H. velleda, Notodonta camelina, Triphcena pronuba, Noctua plecta, 

 Apamea oculea, Hadena dentina, Crocallis elinguaria and Tanagra 

 chcerophyllata. Most of the moths were seen around the electric 

 lamps in the evening, the most conspicuous being, of course, the 

 Ghost, the size and colour of which seem greatly to draw the 

 attention of passers-by. Our only common large Dragon-fly, 

 Aeschna juncea, might also have been seen careering through the 

 streets, and the largest of the " Daddy long-legs," Tipula giganiea, 

 seems to find the walls of Sauchiehall Street hotels peculiarly 

 restful and comforting. It must not be supposed that all kinds 

 of insects were abundant last year. Mamestra brassica, for 

 instance, was exceedingly scarce, both in the imago and the larval 

 state, and many other insects seemed to be in fewer numbers 

 than usual. 



Among the rarer insects recorded by the Section the following 

 may be mentioned: — Lepidoptera — Acherontia atropos, Venilia 

 maculata, Ennomos tiliaria, Einmelesia decolorata, and Mixodia 

 palustrana ; Coleoptera : — Elaphrus cupreus, Cychrus roslralus, 

 Carabus glabratus, C. nitens, Silpha tristis, Aphodius inquinatus 

 and Phyllopertha horticola. Of Venilia maculata a single specimen 

 was taken by Mr. R. Henderson, in Mugdock Woods, near the 

 same place, and about the same date, as it was taken by the writer 

 five years ago. Yet it has not been seen there in the intervening 

 years, nor has it been taken anywhere else in the AVest of Scotland. 

 Ennomos tiliaria turned up at Drymen, and Mr. A. M'Corkle 

 recorded the Death's Head from Kirn. A specimen of this rare 

 and beautiful insect, from Giffnock, was also shown before the 

 Society recently. 



Some work has been done in the orders Hymenoptera and 

 Diptera, and a commencement will be made with the Hemiptera 

 this season. The attempt of the members to re-introduce certain 



