8992 Insects. 
Nepticula betulicola, May. Taken flying. 
N. argentipedella. June. Taken flying. — Charles G. Barrett; Haslemere, 
February 25, 1864. oe 
Zelleria hepariella and Z. insignipennella—In the March number of the ‘ Zoolo- 
gist’ (Zool. 8244) Mr. M‘Lachlan asks if I know the above insects. I certainly know 
them by name only, as being distinct; I have yet to learn who can separate them: if 
any one had seen the large and varied series I took last year, nearly a hundred in 
number, he could not have had much doubt upon the insects being one and the same: 
I took them from yew and juniper, in every instance, and there was no difference in 
their habits at all, only in time; the small ones appeared in greater numbers a week 
or so earlier than the larger ones, which, according to my experience, is a very usual 
occurrence. I find the females of moths generally later, and the males, as a natural 
sequence, are over earlier: my observations coincide with those of Mr. M‘Lachlan, 
and this circumstance alone goes a great way to prove the difference is sexual. I took 
them varying in colour from a black-red (if I may thus express it) to a fine orange 
and pale yellow, together with others half yellow and half red ; some with white heads, 
others without. I have recently seen southern specimens of Z. insignipennella: still, 
after all, I shall be equally glad to acknowledge my error, if it should prove that both 
are species liable to vary in colour, markings and size. The next point is as to when 
I took them in cop.: it was in August, when they were fresh out, and not after hyber- 
nation: I only took two hybernated specimens in March; so this still favours my im- 
pressions: and, moreover, I admit even taking them in cop. does not prove con- 
clusively as much as if the larve were found; but it is of very rare occurrence, in a 
state of nature, that such accidents, as I may term cross-copulation, occur: I never 
before saw more than one instance, and that was of a female Hadena adusta and a 
male H. rectilinea, when feeding on sugar; there were several of each feeding with 
them when this occurred. Of course I am glad, rather than 6therwise, to read the 
remarks of Mr. M‘Lachlan: people have no need to conceal an opinion; it is only “an 
opinion” with us all, and I give mine to subserve truth, not interest: I am sure I shall 
enter into no personal strife to prove or disprove anything: I admit that I am as 
likely to be mistaken as any one else, and whenever I find this to be the case I will 
frankly own it.—J. B. Hodgkinson ; 31, Christ Church Street, Preston, March 6, 
1864. 
Six Months’ Collecting Lepidoptera in Westmoreland, 
By J. B. Hopcxinson. 
THE following brief account of my captures during the unproductive 
seasop of 1863 may probably be acceptable. Although six thousand 
specimens may appear a fair number to capture and set, still is it a 
miserable return for the labour I bestowed to get even this quantity. 
I have known seasons when I could have obtained as many in a 
month, and I might even have increased this number, but I never 
went out at nights, owing to rheumatism. It may be of use to some 
to note the district where I was located: all my captures were made 
