230 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



following. The former spun a cocoon on the surface of the earth on 

 the 1st of the present mouth, but was unfortunately " stung," and an 

 ichneumon pupa is the only result. The second larva is still feeding,, 

 and appears to be perfectly healthy. It is, I should say, nearly full- 

 grown. If this is, as I think, an unusual occurrence, I should like to 

 know if any other reader of the ' Entomologist ' has had a similar 

 experience. I have, of course, frequently had larvae of this species 

 stung before, but this has never appreciably delayed pupation, and I 

 do not think that this can be the cause in the present instance ; but I 

 am anxious to see if the living larva is " stung" or not. — A. E. All- 

 worthy; 5, Gladsmuir Koad, Whitehall Park, N., July 7th, 1895. 



PoLYPORUs FOR STAGING MINUTE Insects. — This seems an excellent 

 material for the purpose ; it is not expensive, retains its white appear- 

 ance, and is easily perforated by the finest pin. When it becomes 

 more generally known there is no doubt this fungus will be adopted 

 in preference to artichoke-pith or any other substance used before its 

 introduction for staging insects. My samples were received from 

 Messrs. Watkins and Doncaster of the Strand. — Eichard South ; 

 Macclesfield. 



Newspaper Entomology. — The following, which appeared in the 

 * Pall Mall Gazette ' of May 27th, is another good example of news- 

 paper entomology. The " omnivorous" collector may be interested to 

 learn that the "large coppers" aud "large tortoiseshells" are not 

 extinct (especially the latter), and that the latter also has recently 

 changed its habits, and has taken to hybernating under ground in the 

 larval stage instead of feeding up in the early spring and summer :— 

 " Sir, — In your issue of to-night is a letter assuring lovers of butter- 

 flies that the large tortoiseshell and large copper are not extinct, but 

 unwisely naming a locality where one of the two species is abundant. 

 That these rarities are still to be found every one rejoices, but their 

 existence is doomed if facilities are given to the omnivorous collector 

 to exterminate them with insatiable hand. At one of the principal 

 post-offices one of the employees showed me about a dozen large 

 tortoiseshells the other day that he had bred from the chrysalis, and 

 was not ashamed to tell me that he had dug up about eight hundred 

 larvae of the same rare insect in the New Forest last autumn. Surely 

 butterflies of rare occurrence should be protected as much as birds, and 

 two or three specimens should be the limit allowed to any collector at 

 the same time. It has always been a matter of regret to me that the 

 writers of the best boolcs on butterflies aud moths should have boasted 

 in their books of enormous captures of particular species in some 

 locality or other ; no one requires more than two or three specimens, 

 and the example to young collectors is surely of the very worst type. — 

 I am. Sir, yours, &c., A Moderate Collector." — Russell E. tlAMES ; 

 3, Mount View Road, Finsbury Park, N., London, June 26th, 1895. 



Dr. Wheeler's Sale, &c. — On the 10th of July the first portion of 

 Dr. Wheeler's collection was sold at Stevens's, and again very low 

 prices have to be recorded. On the whole the collection was disap- 

 pointing. True there were, as one would naturally expect, some fine 

 things, especially amongst the fen insects ; but the condition all round 



