CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 71 



from Gheaitshesk, ia the Azov, this summer {i.e. 1902). While at 

 anchor there, two miles oflf shore, we were infested with multitudes of 

 gnats, and these were followed by a corresponding multitude of these 

 dragonflies (all the same species), which rapidly thinned the gnats." 

 Those interested in British dragonflies will recollect that Mr. C. A. 

 Briggs and his brother a few years ago met with the species (evidently 

 immigrants and all males) at Wisley ponds, in Surrey. It is not 

 really a British dragonfly. Mr. McLachlan has been good enough 

 to look at the insect which has not assumed its mature ruby colouring. 

 — W.J.Lucas; Kingston-on-Thames. 



Larv^ of British Coleophora. — As I wish to record the life-history 

 of all the species of the genus Coleophora, I should be greatly obliged 

 if entomologists would kindly send me any cases and living larvte 

 which they may meet with and have to spare. I shall be most happy 

 to do what I can in return. — Hy. J. Turner ; 13, Drakefell Road, 

 St. Catherine's Park, Hatcham, S.E. 



captukes and field reports. 



Agrotis RiPffi AT Chester. — I took a fresh and perfect specimen of 

 this species on the night of August 13th — insects were generally 

 delayed as to date, last season, by the cold summer — at one of the 

 electric lamps nearest the river. Its identity was kindly established 

 for me by Mr. C. G. Barrett. I believe this is the first record of the 

 moth from Chester, and the interest attaching to the capture is the 

 fact that we are twenty miles in a straight line from the coast. 

 Stretches of sand certainly occur, midway down the river, but they 

 are swept by the tides. — J. Arklk; January, 1903. Since writing the 

 above I find the food-plants of the species Cynoijlossum ojjicinale (hounds- 

 tongue) and Salsola kali (saltwort) are to be found six miles down the 

 river, away from Chester ; the first on the Shotwick Marshes, and the 

 second on the Dee banks. These observations appear to throw a light 

 on the distances traversed by moths before some of them reach our 

 electric lamps, many of which are high up above the surrounding 

 country. — J. Arkle ; 2, George Street, Chester, Jan. 9th, 1903. 



Sirex gigas in Wales. — An example of this hymenopteron, which 

 from appearances seemed to have only recently emerged, was caught 

 resting on the window-sill of the kitchen window of our house, on 

 June 24th, 1901, by my sister Agnes Shelley, who thinking so strange 

 a fly might possibly be of interest to me, secured it by placing a net 

 over it. — Thomas J. Shelley ; 103, King's Road, Canton, Cardifl", 

 Glamorganshire, Jan. 20th, 1903. 



Hawk-moth Pupating on Surface of Ground. — In October, 1902, 

 through a miscalculation, I disturbed some of the larvas of Sjjhinx 

 ligustri that had gone down to pupate ; one of these, when unearthed, 

 refused to remain in the earth a second time, and changed on the 

 surface. The pupa at first was of a greenish colour, very similar to 

 the colour of the larva itself. The colour then slowly changed to a 



