1898.] 65 



Silvanus similis near Soufhamjyton.^On December 28tli I found a single speci- 

 men of Silvanus similis at the bottom of a haystack. As this species is always 

 found under fir bark, the insect must have been hibernating. At what time of year 

 is the insect usually found ? Perhaps it would be a good thing to cut down fir 

 branches and place them near the spot to attract the beetles when they come out in 

 the spring. I should be glad of any information regarding this species. — L. M. 

 BucENiLL, Thornfield, Bitterne, Southampton : February, 1898. 



[I have taken this insect in great profusion by shaking cut fir-branches at Esher, 

 in August and September ; also singly at Cobbam, Kent, from a heap of faggots, but 

 I have never found it under bark. — G-. C. C.]. 



The genus Erehia. — We are requested to state that the specimens of the genus 

 Urebia, exhibited by Mr. H. J. Elwes, F.R.S., in illustration of his remarks at the 

 last meeting of the Entomological Society of London, will, by arrangement with Sir 

 William Flower, Director of the British Museum (Natural History), be on view at 

 that institution for a few weeks. The series contains, almost without exception, 

 representatives of all the known species and more prominent varieties, and should 

 be seen by all students of this difficult and interesting genus. — Eds. 



Erebia lappona in the Upper Engadine. — 1 find that I omitted to include this 

 species in the list of butterflies recorded in last month's Magazine as occurring in 

 the Upper Engadine. It was fairly plentiful and in fine condition at about VOOO 

 feet near the Hannen See. This addition does not alter the total arrived at of 72 

 butterflies. -A. H. JoifES, Eltham : February \st, 1898. 



Tceniocampa munda in the autumn. — I should like to I'eport the capture of 

 Taniocampa munda at ivy. One evening last autumn my son and I tried once 

 more what has been very unsuccessful in this neighbourhood as a rule for many 

 years, namely, searching ivy blossoms ; and we captured two moths, one Orthosia 

 macilenta and one T. munda. Having the opinion of Mr. Chas. G-. Barrett that the 

 insect is certainly T. munda, and its capture at ivy not noticed, I put this on record. 

 — John F. Chuechill, Chesham, Bucks : February 7th, 1898. 



[The specimen is unquestionably T. munda, though not larger than T. stabilis. 

 When one takes into consideration that this and the allied species are fully perfected 

 as moths within the pupa-skin as early as October, the great matter for surprise is 

 that autumn emergences do not frequently take place. Yet nothing is much more 

 rare!— C. Or. B.]. 



Observations on the pairing of Dasycampa rubiginea, Fb. — Dasycampa rubiginea 

 having, I believe, very rarely been seen in cop., even by those who have kept the 

 imagines alive through the winter and watched them carefully, a few observations 

 on the subject will probably prove of interest. My first attempt to keep the moths 

 alive was made in the winter of 1893—4, but they all gradually succumbed, owing 

 to my not properly understanding their likes and dislikes. In the three following 

 winters, however, my efforts were crowned with success, and I could doubtless have 

 continued the brood if so inclined. Whenever I have kept the moths in confine- 

 ment—their numbers varied in different winters from six to thirteen- they have 

 been watched pretty closely in the evenings, and at night, in the liope o^ seeing 



