THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 209 
not grow where the insect usually occurs. —/. B. Hodgkinson ; 
15, Spring Bank, Preston, August 3, 1876. 
Pachnobia alpina.—Can any of the readers of the ‘ Ento- 
mologist’ suggest a food-plant for the larva of this species? 
The moths have been taken in considerable numbers this 
season, and timely information as to the food-plant may save 
the lives of many larve; it seems a pity to lose so good an 
opportunity of working out the life-history of this hitherto 
extreme rarity: 1876 may well be called the P. alpina year, 
as 1872 is that of V. Antiopa. One entomologist who knows 
the district where the captures have been made, perhaps better 
than any other, always prophesied that some day or other it 
would turn up in numbers. Like many other so-called 
rarities it only wanted hunting for; but Highland collecting 
is very different work to that of the woods and downs of 
Kent or Surrey. —£Z. Howard Birchall; London, August 
26, 1876. 
Entomological Pins.—i am glad to see the subject of pins 
mooted in the ‘Entomologist.’ We can hardly expect to 
reach perfect uniformity in regard to their use, but we may 
reasonably hope to obtain something more than we at present 
possess. I quite agree with My. Carrington that Messrs. 
Tayler & Co. might safely cease making several of the sizes 
they now place upon their list. I agree with Mr. Carrington 
as nearly as possible in the pins I use, with this exception, 
that I do not consider No. 6 large enough for all Sphinges, 
and he appears to recommend it for all, without exception. 
I use No. 12 for those which require a pin larger than No. 6. 
For all who do not collect Tortrices and Tinea, I think the 
only other sizes required are No. 8, No. 15, and No. 18; 
No. 8 for almost all Noctuw, and many butterflies; No. 15 
for almost all Geometre; No. 18 for small Geometra, and 
most Pyrales. Nos. 8 and 15 are so nearly the same in 
length that their close proximity in the cabinet will only be 
marked by a keen observer. Mr. Greene, in the ‘ Insect- 
Hunter’s Companion, says, “ No.7 I consider indispensable.” 
I imagine he only considers it so for a purpose he immediately 
proceeds to notice. Whilst on this subject there is another 
which presents itself, and which is next of kin, ¢.e. “pinning.” 
At present pins are seen leaning fore or aft, to the right or to 
the left; and what a marring effect this bas. I will not 
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