22 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



heard of a specimen in the open. Is this the usual habit of the insect ? 

 J. P. Barrett. 



COREMIA QUADRIFASCIARIA AND MeLANIPPE PROCELLATA IN EsSEX. 



With reference to notes on the occurrence of these species in this county, 

 in this year's ' Entomologist,' by the Rev. Gilbert H. Raynor and others, I 

 may mention that I have taken the former on several occasions in this 

 district, and once bred it, though I cannot remember where I took the larva, 

 or what it was like. Of the latter, one was taken by one of ray sons here, 

 on July 30th. There is no chalk in the neighbourhood, nor is there any 

 wild clematis within ten or twelve miles that I know of, though I have 

 noticed it in a few gardens, and have some in my own. — Gervase F. 

 Mathew; Dovercourt, Essex, Dec. 10th, 1900. 



Dasycampa rubiginea in Berkshire. — Whilst collecting insects at 

 ivy-bloom, on Oct. 16th, at Padworth, my father, Mr. H. Garrett, took a 

 fine and perfect specimen of D. rubiginea ; he searched for more several 

 nights after, but was unsuccessful in obtaining another specimen. — Henry 

 E. Garrett ; 3, Brewer's Green Mews, Victoria Street Westminster, S.W. 



Vanessa atalanta, Macroglossa stellatarum, and ^schna mixta 

 in Kilburn. — On the morning of Oct. 1st V. atalanta and V. urtica were 

 still on the wing, in the nursery garden close to the Kilburn and Brondes- 

 bury Met. Station, and captured by the proprietor. 1 also noticed a 

 specimen of M. stellatarum darting in and out among the flowers there. On 

 the morning of Oct. 9th F. atalanta and ^E. mixta were noticed by me in 

 the vicinity of West End Midland Railway Station. This is only the 

 second specimen of jE. mixta that I have seen in this neighbourhood. — 

 (Rev.) F. A. Walker; Dun Mallard, Shoot-up-Hill, N.W., Oct. 9th, 1900. 



Vanessa atalanta in Scotland. — According to Mr. R. Service (Ann. 

 Scott. Nat. Hist.) this species was abundant in Solway last autumn, espe- 

 cially in gardens, in one of which, not far from Southerness, he counted 

 over two hundred specimens. 



CiRRHGEDIA XERAMPELINA AND VAR. UNICOLOR IN NoTTS. 1 tOOk a 



good number of the above last August, and one of the females is a splendid 

 variety. The fore wings are all of the same ground colour as the central 

 band, The band on the hind margin is also a shade darker, and more of 

 a purple tint. Two faint yellow lines mark where the central band should 

 be. Is this rare insect subject to much variation ? — A. Simmons ; Rutland 

 House, West Bridgford, Nottingham. 



[The variety referred to above appears to be an example of var. unicolor, 

 Staud. A few specimens of this form have been previously recorded from 

 localities in the North of England, and we understand that it is of regular 

 occurrence in the Isle of Man. — Ed.] 



Xanthia gilvago in THE Bromley District. — During the first week 

 in October last I took a fine specimen of X. gilvago, at sugar, in Barnett 

 Wood, near here, — A. J. Lawrance ; 8, Cross Road, Bromley Common, 

 Kent, Nov. 8th, 1900. 



Plusia gamma. — To-day has been beautifully bright and warm, and, 

 while walking on the sea-wall about noon, I saw a moth fly in from the sea. 

 It passed over my head and settled on a tuft of grass, and upon walking up 

 to the spot I found it was a fine fresh-looking example of this common 

 species. By the way, how does gamma pass the winter — in the perfect, 



