1893.] 15 



give an appearance of a dark line running through it parallel to the 

 hind margin. The hind-wings are paler, and their fringes much paler, 

 than those of vay ferrii,r/inella. The body and legs are also paler, and 

 the diaphanous spot has a tendency to be larger than in ferruginella. 



Without fuller information, it is difficult to pronounce this Port- 

 land form, which we may call Heringi, a good species, though considering 

 the constancy of the characters above indicated (for I have never taken 

 a ^a.v\ ferruginella there, though Heringi is sometimes very common), 

 we may certainly look upon it as constituting at least a Avell-marked 

 local variety. This is what 1 should have been inclined to consider it, 

 were it not for the fact that a very similar variety has been taken on 

 the continent, and there considered worthy of elevation to the rank 

 of a doubtful species, which leads me to question whether the Portland 

 and Grerman forms may not be derived from a common ancestor, inde- 

 pendently oi ferruginella, and not directly from the latter species, in 

 which case it could not be looked upon as merely a constant local 

 variety. 



I have in my series of ferruginella two specimens taken by Mr. 

 Atmore in Norfolk, which also correspond with Heringi, but I have no 

 further particulars of its occurrence in that neighbourhood. 



I should be glad of any information about these and other British 

 Heringi ov ferruginella, or about the German Heringi, which would be 

 likely to throw any further light upon the subject, and I should be 

 especially obliged to any one who would be kind enough to lend me 

 any light forms of yern<^me//a, if such occur, either in conjunction 

 with the dark form or not, for comparison with the Portland ones. 



This moth occurs at Portland at the end of June and through 

 July and part of August. I have one specimen, taken on October 7th, 

 1887. but this is my only autumn capture. 



Monte Video, near Weymouth : 

 December 17th, 1892. 



On the pith for mounting minute insects. — At the last Meeting of the Entomol. 

 Soc. Lond., Mr. Farren exhibited NepticulcB mounted on pith, a practice universally 

 in vogue on the continent for minute "winged insects. From the appearance of the 

 pith, I gathered it was that of elder, and was informed it was so. This pith is 

 decidedly objectionable, as it invariably turns yellow in a short time. The best for 

 the purpose is that of "Jerusalem Artichoke" {Helianthus tuberosus). The stems 

 of this plant are annual, and only the large, fully matured ones should be selected, 



