NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 255 



during March, Platypteryx unguicula furnished me with a good 

 series. On March 22nd I bred a melanic variety of Stauropus fagi 

 — a male ; on April 4th, a dark female ; and on the 8th and 15th, 

 two more fine dark females emerged in perfect condition. The 

 male insect was unfortunately rubbed in coming out of the pupa ; 

 this misfortune I obviated with the others by damping the moss 

 in which the cocoons were placed. Perhaps I may be allowed 

 here to express my somewhat tardy thanks to Mr. Jobson, for his 

 kind instructions relative to the " breeding Stauropus fagi," 

 contributed in answer to a query of my own, to the 'Ento- 

 mologist,' vol. xvi., p. 211. Having so few cocoons I was afraid 

 (no doubt foolishly) to trust them out of doors as he directed ; 

 had I done so I might not have failed with one even. I may 

 observe that the moths were not forced, being kept in a cool room. 

 The first week in May, Diantluecia capsophila came out, and on 

 the last day of the month the first Smerinthus ocellatus, a male, 

 showed himself. On June 14th, a specimen of Acherontia 

 atropos was captured in the park. Towards the close of the 

 month Sesia tipuliformis was observed, flitting over the currant 

 bushes in the garden. About this time the formidable-looking 

 stag-beetle {Lucanus cervus) was to be seen in some numbers. In 

 July the handsome larvae of a sawfly, bright blue-green, with the 

 first and last segments orange, with rows of black spots, were in 

 great profusion on willows (Salix alba), stripping the trees almost 

 bare of leaves, the leaves also being much disfigured with a rosy 

 gall. During this month the pretty Geometer, Anticlea rubidata 

 (with Iodls vernaria, Melanippe procellata and Cidaria pyraliata) 

 was to be beaten out of hedges, or taken " in the gloaming " 

 fairly common. On the 21st July a fine Acherontia atropos 

 emerged, the larvae being found in September of 1883. Sugaring 

 has not produced much ; but amongst swarms of Apamea oculea 

 I may mention Plusia chrysitis (over nettles), Orthosia ypsilon, 

 Mania maura, Tryphcena janthina and interjecta, Catocala nupta, 

 Pyralis glaucinalis, fimbrialis, &c. On July 14th I took a female 

 Zeuzera cesculi in the garden. She has deposited a number 

 of eggs. Should there be anyone desirous of breeding this 

 insect, I shall be very happy to forward them. Early in August 

 Ennomos fuscantaria, bred from ova, began to appear. All the 

 specimens are remarkably light in colour. In this month larvae 

 of Smerinthus ocellatus were taken from apple trees ; and on the 



