ZOOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS OF 1893. 281 
Abundance of Ladybird Beetles (Coccinellide.) I never 
before saw these pretty and useful insects in such numbers as 
this year. At Ince, Chester, during August, the banks of the 
Mersey and the adjoining pasture land, extending from the 
“North Hills” to the Tang, were almost alive with the rather 
small but pretty Aippodamia variega/a. In the early morning 
(6 a.m.) they were sitting motionless in crowds on almost every 
piece of tidal refuse, &c., that could be found, apparently 
enjoying the early rays of the morning sun. I tried to find out 
what these insects were feeding upon but failed. A large flock 
of Starlings daily visited this locality, and as they were continu- 
ously hunting amongst the grass I wondered if they were feeding 
on the ‘ Ladybirds.” Two victims, which fell to my gun to 
satisfy me on this point, were found to have been feeding chiefly 
on Coleopiera, but not a trace of a Coccznella was found in either. 
The two large species Mysia oblongo-guitata and Anatis 
ocellata, which feed upon the Pine Aphis (Chermes pint, Koch), 
were exceedingly common upon the fir trees at Sandiway, 
Cheshire, where I could have obtained almost any number of 
them. Here my father and I spent several hours ‘‘ beating,” 
and our principal takes were Coccinellide. The Lepidopterous 
larve which always occur in the above locality during August, 
were absent; they had undoubtedly ‘‘fed up” and pupated ; 
even the very commonest species were not seen 
The Green Tortoise Beetle (Cassida vindis), has appeared 
in considerable numbers on the embankment of the Man- 
chester Ship Canal, near Ince. It was first taken by Messrs. 
Tomlin and Hodges; subsequently my brother and I found 
them in great numbers in the same locality, feeding on the 
“Plant Lice” (Apis), which infests the ‘ Marsh Thistle.” 
This beetle is by no means a common insect in our district, and 
it is curious that it should occur on the new embankment of the 
Canal. I spent many hours “beating” for the species on the 
adjoining marsh, but without success. 
The Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa Alalanta), 
occurred in great numbers during the Autumn. In the marshy 
districts during August the /arve and pupe@.occurred in almost 
every patch of nettles. My father was telling me the other day 
how fond these insects are of over-ripe fruit, and that when 
once in possession of the latter they will guard it with great 
zeal ; a single wasp proving no match for them. Their method 
of defence is to open out their gorgeous wings in quick 
succession, which has the desired effect on a single wasp, but 
not on three or four. 
