(jQ [March, 



them paired, but only on three occasions have I been rewarded, viz., February 27th, 

 1896, March (beginning, but exact date uncertain), 1897, and March 2l8t, 1897. 

 Each time they were found in cop. at 10 30 p.m., and had separated by 7 or 8 a.m., 

 and on each occasion the female was clinging to the muslin which covered the top 

 of the box, with her abdomen hanging nearly perpendicularly downwards, while 

 attached to it, and suspended head downwards in mid air with closed wings, was 

 the motionless male. The box containing the moths was always kept in a fireless 

 room facing south ; on February 27th, 1896, the window was open, and the outside 

 temperature was 42 F., but on the other occasions the window was shut and the 

 temperature not ascertained, though the nights were fairly warm. — Eustace R. 

 Banees, The Eectory, Corfe Castle : January, 1898. 



Phlogophora meiiculoia, T,.,in mid-December. — On December 18th last I took a 

 male specimen of Phlogophora meticulosa at rest on a gorse bush on the top of one 

 of the hills near here. It was in fine condition when captured, but was left alive in 

 a box in a warm room for three or four days, and had in consequence battered itself 

 about considerably before it was killed. This is surely a remarkably late date for 

 the occurrence of any individual, and particularly of a male, of a species that 

 hibernates in the larval state. — Id. 



Psocus major, Loen.s, in Surrey. — Recently, in looking through my Psocidw 

 Mr. McLachlan detected a specimen of this rarity, which was taken by myself on 

 Bookham Common, Surrey, on August 3rd, 1895. I believe that the only previous 

 British record of the species is that in Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xxx, p. 243. — C. A. 

 Bbiggs, Eock House, Lynmouth : February ^th, 1898. 



Early Neuroptera, Sfc, in North Devon. — On returning here on January 20th, 

 after ten days' absence, I found that on the 17th my brother had taken Nemoura 

 Meyeri, and on the 19th my niece had an imago of Ba'etis rhodani. On the 22nd, 

 along the banks of tlie East Lynn, we took three more N. Meyeri, one JB. rhodani, 

 one Chryftopa vulgaris (ordinary condition), two Philopof.amus montanus (others 

 seen), and a few ants. Hive bees were common in the garden on the 21st. — Id. 



Excess of Naphthaline injurious to collections. — A few of the Lepidoptera in 

 my collection having been moi-e or less damaged, as the result of my having used 

 too much naphthaline, a word of warning may perhaps be useful to those, if any, 

 who are as little versed in chemistry as I am. The cells all round my cabinet 

 drawers were nearly filled with pure naphthaline crystals, whilst each of my store 

 boxes contained two small muslin bags filled with naphthaline, either in crystal or 

 lump form. The cabinets and boxes are kept in a I'oom where there is always a fire 

 by day during the winter, but are well away from the fire itself. After a time I 

 found to my dismay that fresh naphtha crystals had formed here and there, not only 

 on the paper at the sides and bottoms of several of the drawers and boxes, and in 

 some cases on the pitis and labels, but also on the wings of some of the specimens 

 themselves, as well as on the glasses over the drawers. When the enclosed air 

 becomes too highly saturated with fumes of naphthaline, the excess is evidently 

 deposited in the form of crystals on any substance inside the drawers. It is curious 

 that although all the cells were charged equally highly and at the same time, only a 



