NOTES ON COLLECTING. 267 



taking of the larvffi of this immigrant, on the Northumberland coast 

 at Warkworth, while staying there this summer. The first time I 

 noticed them was on July 25th, during a ramble among the sand- 

 dunes and -banks, securing three from one of the usual foodplants, 

 field or welted thistle {A. acanthoides) . From July 25th-28th, I took 

 26 larvsB, these I left in good hands until I returned on August 4th, 

 and found four had pupated. By August 13th there were twenty 

 pupae and two larvae. In the majority of cases the dark coloured 

 larvfe prevailed, being the reverse in the pupal state, where the grey or 

 light type predominated. All the insects emerged, only one cripple, 

 the first specimens on August 17th, and the remainder on varying 

 dates until August 30th. Two of the larvae changed into the pupal 

 state between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on August 13th, these I noted carefully 

 as to their duration in that stage, one emerged on the 29th, in the after- 

 noon, and the other on the 30th, in the morning, or 16-J and 17 days 

 respectively. They were uncertain as to their time of emergence, for 

 although the majority come out between 10 a.m. and midday, three 

 emerged before 9 a.m., two at 6 p.m., and one, which had been kept 

 in total darkness, at II p.m. — G. Nicholson, 26, Lancaster Street, 

 Newcastle. September 28th, 1906. 



Daphnis nerii near Blyth. — A 5 of the Oleander hawk in good 

 condition, and resting on the tall grass, was taken by Miss K. Eosie, 

 on the coast near Blyth, on August 6th. I believe this is an addition 

 to the county list.— Ibid. 



Second brood of Cupido minima. — -The note in the Ent. Record, 

 xviii., p. 240, on the second brood of Cupido minima, tempts me to 

 note that I took several specimens in fine condition on August 6th 

 last at Streatley, near Reading, no doubt a second emergence, as the 

 first brood was out in June. — -W. E. Butler, F.E.S., Hayling House, 

 Oxford Road, Reading. October 2nd, 1906. 



Laphygma exigua at mucking. — -If memorable for nothing else, the 

 year 1906 will deserve to be remembered as the exiyua year. If one 

 could tabulate the captures, and the numbers, the dates, and the 

 localities, such records would surely be of the greatest interest. 

 Having for years led Caradrina quadripunctata a dreadful life, I was 

 rewarded this year by capturing L. exigua at sugar, on August 23rd. 

 With the exception of one torn specimen, which I found settled on a 

 reed close down to the river-wall, the remainder of my seven captures 

 were taken at sugar in my garden. I was rather surprised that not a 

 single specimen visited my great moth-trap (in the signal-box), but 

 such is the case. Whether I did not keep a sharp enough look out, or 

 whether, as is suggested by notices I have read, this insect strives to 

 conceal itself when visiting light, I do not know. My last capture 

 was on September 21st. This insect appears to have no regular time 

 for visiting the sugar, my captures happening from early dusk until 

 10.30 p.m. I have been asked whether I consider that L. exif/ua is 

 likely to make a home in England, as have Caradrina ambigua, Plusia 

 moneta, etc. In my humble opinion this is not at all likely. Although 

 cosmopolitan, it is essentially a southern insect, and probably unable to 

 live the winter through in our country, in a wild state, and I have not a 

 doubt but that these specimens which have been taken this autumn, are 

 the offspring of a considerable immigration earlier in the year. I should, 

 therefore, suggest that there is no reason why it should, in future 



