NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 407 



Sphinx convolvuli reaeed from Ova to Pup^e. — It may be of 

 interest to record the rearing of S. convolvuli larvae, from ova deposited 

 by a female captured on September 7th ; several ova were obtained 

 and the larvae hatched out on the 15th and 16th. Convolvuhis sejnum 

 w^as given as food. After each moult, which was of short duration, 

 they fed at an enormous rate, and duly pupated on October 9th, 

 10th, and 11th.— G. Nobbs; North Lodge, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, 

 October 24th, 1911. 



Sphinx convolvuli in Kent.- — We wish to record the capture 

 of two specimens of S. convolvuli this year. The first of these was 

 netted at about 9 p.m. on September 13th at a bed of petunias, 

 having seen it on some verbenas a quarter of an hour previously. 

 Another was seen on the same petunias the next evening at dusk, 

 and on September 16th we captured one on white nicotiana (tobacco 

 plant) at 7.20 ; we had been watching it for some time in the twilight, 

 hearing the hum of its wings most distinctly as it flew from flower 

 to flower. Both specimens captured are males. We saw a third 

 specimen about a week later, but failed to catch it. A noticeable 

 point was that they entirely disregarded the dark red nicotiana 

 blossoms, though they were more plentiful in the garden than the 

 white ; this must be either owing to the fact that they are less visible 

 in the darkness, or that, being more highly cultivated than the white, 

 they have less scent or honey, just as the most highly cultivated 

 mignonette has no scent at all. — P. A. and D. A. J. Buxton; Fairhill, 

 Tonbridge. 



Sphinx convolvuli and Acherontia atropos in Hampshire, — 

 This is evidently a great year for the larger hawk moths. I have had 

 four specimens of &. convolvuli brought me this month, and have seen 

 another flying round one of the electric lamps in the town, while news 

 of a good many more having been taken in the neighbourhood has 

 reached me. A week ago a fresh specimen of A. atropos was brought 

 me. — (Rev.) J. E. Tarbat ; Earnham, September 27th, 1911. 



Sphinx convolvuli at Dovercourt. — This species appears to 

 have been rather common in this neighbourhood this autumn, for I 

 have had five brought to me. The first on August 23rd; one on 

 September 7th ; one on September 8th ; one on 12th, and the last on 

 September 13th. Two of these were very large and fine, and quite 

 uninjured, but the other three had been so roughly handled that they 

 were unfit for the cabinet. — Gervase E. Mathew ; Dovercourt, 

 November 20th, 1911. 



Agrotis exclamationis, &c., in September. — In view of the 

 recent record of a second generation of A. exclamationis in the 

 ' Entomologist ' for October, you may be interested to hear that we 

 took this species at sugar here several times. August 30th (three 

 females, fresh), September 1st (one male), September 6th (one) and 

 September 21st. I also hear of the capture of two specimens in late 

 August near Norwich. A. segetum was found in fresh condition at 

 sugar on September 1st and 8th. Barathra (Mamestra) brassiccB 

 occurred quite fresh on August 30th (one), September 1st (two), Sep- 



