loo THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



AcHERONTiA ATROPos IN WARWICKSHIRE. — Amoug the many interest- 

 ing reports of A. atrapos, I have not observed any from Warwickshire. 

 During August I had five fine larvae brought to me, which had been found 

 in various wardens near the town, and also one large pupa, which was found 

 in a coal-heap in a garden, where one of the larvae had also been obtained. 

 Of the larvae two failed to pupate successfully, but the other three chHuged 

 all right. I adopted the forcing plan suggested by Messrs. J. and W. 

 Davis, and am pleased to say I was rewarded with three very fine imagines, 

 two females and one male. It would be interesting to hear if many of those 

 reported in the larval state have successfully attained the perfect stage, 

 and in what proportion as regards numbers. — Chas. Baker; Atherstone, 

 Jan. 2l8t, 1901. 



Acherontia atropos in Northumberland, 1900. — This species has 

 been unusually numerous in this district, in common with other parts of 

 the country, during 1900. The following captures of larvae have come 

 under ray notice, all upon the English side of the Border, and I have no 

 doubt many others have occurred : — Sept. Ist. One at Smafield station, 

 upon the main line of railway between Berwick and Belford ; another, at 

 the same place, about a week later. 5th. One at Lilburn Tower. 20th. 

 One from a garden at Wooler. 22nd. One from Plea Piece. 18th. One 

 near Ancroft ; one. Holy Island. October. One at Brock Mill, near Beal. 

 A year seldom passes without one or two of these strange-looking cater- 

 pillars being found in the distiict, the imago being much less frequently 

 Seen. — George Bolam ; Berwick-on-Tweed, Jan. 23rd, 1901. 



Early Appearance of Choerocampa elpenor. — On Jan. 9th I received 

 from my friend Mr. M. F. Thomas, of Brecon, a very fine specimen of this 

 moth, and he also kindly sent me the following particulars. The cater- 

 pillar was found during the first week in August last, among some lilies-of- 

 the valley underneath a climbing white jessamine ; after trying several 

 things it was found to eat lettuce leaves. It pupated the last week in 

 August, and was kept in a cardboard box on the mantelshelf of the 

 smoking-room. The moth came out on Jan. 2nd. It is a beautiful speci- 

 men, perfect in every respect. Is not this a curious time of year for its 

 emergence? — J. W. Vaughan ; Bryn-y-Mon, Tenby, Jan. 12th, 1900. 



The Vanessids in 1900. — The larvae of Vanessa urtica were exces- 

 sively abundant here last June and July, as usual, terribly ichneuraoned. 

 I noticed hundreds of their chrysalids hanging from copings of walls, &c., 

 and collected several dozen, but not one produced a butterfly. However, in 

 August and September the butterflies were tolerably common in clover- 

 fields, but not abundant. V. io and V. polychloros were more numerous 

 than usual, and V. atalanta was common, particularly in the larva state. 

 Of V. [Cynthia) cardui I only noticed three — two very battered examples 

 early in July, and one quite fresh on Sept. 5th. I was surprised there 

 were not more of them, as they are usually plentiful during a clouded 

 yellow year.— Gervase F. Mathew; Dovercourt, Feb. llth, 1901. 



Notes from Portland, 1900. — The following particulars respecting 

 some of the best insects obtained here by me this season may be worth 

 putting on record. Colias edusa was plentiful, and on the wing from 

 Aug. llth to Sept. 19th. I had one worn male brought me on June 12th, 

 which I liberated. Of the variety helice I took six specimens. C. hyale I 



