NOTES ON COLLECTING. 345 



Anthrocera trifolii ab. obscura, Tutt. — We observed recently that 

 Assmann in his Abbild. icnd Ih'Hch. der Schmett. Schlen., p. 10, pi. ii., 

 fig. 8c, describes and figures excellently an example of Anthrocera tri- 

 folii ab. obscura, two examples of which were captured by Dr. Wocke in 

 the neighbourhood of Trebnitz. These and Mr. Corbin's example 

 [a)ite, p. 247 (by error 249)] should be added to those already recorded 

 in Tutt's British Lepidoptera, vol. i., p. 487. — J. W. Tutt. 



J^OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



Entomologicu:, pins. — I am not quite sure when the change came 

 in, but I suppose it was about ten years ago that it became fashionable 

 to use No. 9''' pins for insects which we previously impaled on No. 15. 

 Generally speaking, I think I am correct in saying that smaller pins 

 are used all round than was the case at the period just alluded to. 

 The great — and to my mind the only — advantage gained is that we see 

 more of the insect and less of the pin when the specimens are set up. 

 This is, no doubt, a great improvement, but I doubt whether it is 

 counterbalanced by the additional danger incurred in moving the 

 insect, especially as the specimen is nowadays generally pinned half- 

 way up the pin. Another difficulty is that, although most of us older 

 collectors have no objection to pin Strenia clathrata with No. 9, we are 

 in doubt as to what pin to put through Cidaria rtissata or Painphila 

 si/lvaniis. I certainly prefer No. 15 for these two last species. Again 

 take Xyluphasia pohjodon (or any insect of that size) : granting that 

 No. 8 is too small, are we to use 17 or 9 ? Then what would you use 

 for Euchloe cardamines, 8 or 15 ? I consider 8 too thick to look well, 

 and much prefer 15 which (of Tayler's make) is by no means a 

 flimsy pin. But the greatest error of all, to my thinking, is to pin a 

 "pug "like Eupithecia linariata with No. 10. It gives the insect a 

 very clumsy appearance compared with the same species when pinned 

 with No. 18, which pin, I feel certain, is quite large enough for many 

 Tor trices and INIicros (such as Dcpressaria) which are generally pinned 

 with 10. To decide what pin ought to be used for difierent species is 

 the greatest of all the puzzles encountered by the tiro in entomology, 

 and I think the ventilation of the subject in your columns would be of 

 much interest and advantage, even if it should not lead to any definite 

 result. — (Eev.) Gilbert H. Raynor, M.A., Hazeleigh Rectory, Mal- 

 don. September 8th, 1899. 



Acherontia atropos IN Kent. — Early in August a friend sent me 

 a nearly full-fed larva found in his garden at Ewell, near Dover, 

 which, after forcing, has emerged perfect. — S. G. Hills, Public 

 Library, Folkestone. 



Porthetria dispar at large. — Last July I asked the porter here to 

 get me some hawthorn, which he did from a hedge a little way out of 

 the town. On his bringing it me, I noticed on it a caterpillar which 

 was new to me, and which I was careful to isolate. It spun up, and 

 when it emerged it proved to be a <? Porthetria dispar. It is very large, 

 and very dark, not at all like any of the " domestic " kind I have in 

 my cabinet. — Ibid. 



Macroglossa stellatarum in Suffolk and Essex. — M. stellatartn)i 



* The sizes mentioned arc those of Meabrs. D. F. Tayler'e pins. 



