54 THE entomologist's kecord. 



with rather poor results, I found, on coming out of the wood, this 

 species in a clearing near the edge, and also netted four specimens of 

 Syrichthus malvae there. I was much struck with the fact of 

 Coenoynjmpha pamphilus, being extremely local in this neighbourhood. 

 I spent from June 12th-24th at Penn, and yet with the exception of 

 the clearing already mentioned, where I saw at the most half a dozen 

 examples, I only saw the species in two other places, one at a village 

 called Haslemere, the other between Chesham and Amersham, in both 

 of which localities for about fifty yards they were very abundant, and 

 yet there was none to be seen a little further on. I may add that on 

 September 17th last I found a larva of Sphinx lignstri feeding on ash. 

 It went to earth the next day. — A. M. Swain, 5, Kelvin Terrace, 

 Sydenham. January 227ul, 1900. 



Sphinx convolvuli at Penakth. — A schoolboy brought me a full- 

 grown larva of S. convolvuli, September 1st last. I have captured three 

 of these beautiful moths at Penarth. — T. L. Howe, Beaufort House, 

 Penarth. 



AcHERONTiA ATROPos AT Penarth. — Two fine pupffi of Acherontia 

 atropos were brought me by the stationmaster, who obtained them 

 when digging potatoes on September 12th last. I put them in my 

 breeding-cages and four days afterwards I found that one had emerged, 

 the second following two days later. — Ibid. 



Winter specimens of Gonoptera libatrix. — Having noticed in your 

 issue of January 15th, 1900, an account from one of your corres- 

 pondents of the winter capture of Gonoptera libatrix, I thought it might 

 be of interest to mention that these insects are of very frequent 

 occurrence in this house during the Avinter months. On December 

 29th a fine ? appeared in the drawing-room at about 5.45 p.m., and 

 after wandering aimlessly about for a short while, finally settled on a 

 lady's dress. We came across one or more specimens on an average 

 every three or four days ; and, as they are always in perfect condi- 

 tion, I conclude that this species emerges late, and hybernates in 

 dwellings or outhouses. — H. W. Shepheard-Walwyn, Bidborough, 

 Tunbridge Wells. 



Entomological Pins. — I was interested in reading the Eev. G. H. 

 Eaynor's note on the above subject {Ent. Eec, xi., p. 345), as I am not 

 at all satisfied with our present position. I must confess that in my 

 use of No. 10, wherever practicable, I am, in Mr. Raynor's eyes, one 

 of the sinners, and, sad to say, an unrepentant sinner. Only this last 

 summer I set a long series of Eupithecia linariata, thereon, and if I 

 had sent any of them to Mr. Eaynor I should have good ground to fear 

 that his allusion to " the greatest error of all " was aimed at me. But 

 if black pins be used, I really cannot see the clumsy effect of No. 10, 

 which satisfies me perfectly. To use a more slender pin would be all 

 very well if time were no object to the entomologist ; but I protest 

 that it takes nearly twice as long to move in safety a series of insects, 

 on No. 18 than a series on No. 10, and, to my mind, the bending of a 

 pin is one of the most serious calamities that can befall a collector. I 

 have every intention of setting my next year's E. linariata (if they 

 emerge) on the same pin. In short, I follow the advice of our good old 

 friend, Dr. Knaggs, even more literally, perhaps, than he intended, and 

 pin almost everything with No. 8 or No. 10. Of course, like Mr. Eaynor, 

 I am referring to Tayler's pins ; they are so excellent that the marvel 



