242 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 



as soon as they were about half an inch long I sleeved them on poplar 

 (out of doors), and there they remained till ready to go down. I then 

 enclosed them in a breeding-cage, which was kept out of doors until I 

 discovered that the moths iiad emerged. The imagines are smaller 

 and darker than the first brood. — B. Stovell; 25, Studley Road, 

 Clapham, S.W. 



Yellow Colouring of Cocoon of Plusia moneta. — As Mr. Bird's 

 theory is disputed by Mr. Smallman [ante, p. 217), I should like to say 

 that, having had P. nioneta cocoons for several years, I have always 

 found that moisture had the effect of turning the cocoons bright yellow. 

 This first occurred to my notice through sprinkling water on tha cocoons 

 with a hair-brush. When I next inspected them they had turned bright 

 yellow. Permanent white cocoons have not come under my notice, 

 but of course there may be such. P. moneta is now very common, and 

 anyone can make the experiment with the hair-brush. — A. Robinson ; 

 Bretauely, Chislehurst, Aug. 4th, 1903. 



Mr. Smallman does not mention having tried the effect of water on 

 the " permanent white cocoon." If he has, and found that it did not 

 turn the fabric yellow, it would be interesting to know whether the 

 cocoon experimented upon was a fresh one or not. It may be that the 

 colour-producing element in the silk deteriorates with age, and in an 

 old enough cocoon ceases to be affected by moisture. — J. F. Bird ; 

 The Lodge, Cowfold, Sussex, Aug. 4th, 1903. 



CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 



Gynandbous Hesperia action. — On July 16th last I took, near 

 Swanage, a very good specimen of the above, the left side having male 

 markings and the right side female. The specimen is now in the col- 

 lection of Sir Vannery Crewe, Bart. — A. Ford; " Hillside," Sunnyhill 

 Road, Pokesdown, Hants. 



Plusia chrysitis in South London. — Plusia chrysitis came into 

 my study to the light last week ; first time I have taken this insect' so 

 near London. Trlphana ianthina has also been a visitor. — W. Dannatt ; 

 75, Vanburgh Park, Blackheath, Aug. 17th, 1903. 



Pionea (Ebulea) stachydalis in Surrey. — Last year I recorded 

 this species from the Eslier district (Eutom. xxxv. 244). On July 

 25th last I captured a rather worn specimen at Byfleet. — Richard 

 South ; 96, Drakefield Road, Upper Tooting, S.W. 



Deilephila livornica at Bournemouth. — It is with pleasure that I 

 forward a record of the capture of D. livornica. On March 27th last 

 my daughter was fortunate enough to find a large " hawk " at rest on 

 the rough grass, on the East Cliff at Bournemouth. She took it to a 

 chemist, by whom it was unskilfully killed and rather rubbed, though 

 it is still in very fair condition. In the journey home the luggage was 

 unfortunately lost, and only after some months was the bag containing 



