ffOTlflS, CAPTURES, ET(J. l4t 



opinion is summed up by saying that verbasci is a good species, but that the 

 identity of scrophularim with lychnitis is likely to be proved, when any 

 specialist has the opportunities for close and extended comparisons. — 

 N. T. DoBREE ; Beverley, E. Yorks. 



Late APPEAEANCE OF Hybernia defoliaria. — On Jan. 26th last, I 

 bred a specimen of Hybernia defoliaria, the pupa of which had been kept 

 in a greenhouse all the winter, where, although not much heat was used, 

 it would certainly be protected from the frost, and would be quite as 

 warmly situated as it ever could be out of doors, however mild the winter. 

 It would appear then that this species may remain in the pupa state up to 

 the end of January, quite irrespective of any retardation by excessively' 

 inclement weather. I may also mention that on May 4th, 1891, I took at 

 light, here, a quite fresh specimen of A. ascidaria. — W. M. Christy; 

 Watergate, Emsworth, Hants. 



Late appearance of Euchloe cardamines. — In reply to Mr. Perry 

 Coste's note on the late appearance of E. cardamines at Miirren, may I 

 suggest that Miirren is 5000 ft. above sea-level, and that it is one of the 

 commonest experiences in Swiss collecting to find insects that are mere 

 rags in the valleys, only just emerged, a few thousand feet up. As to 

 Gonopteryx rhamni, I have found it fairly abundant in more than one Swiss 

 valley during the month of August. — R. S. Standen ; 67, Earl's Court 

 Square, South Kensington, May 10, 1891. 



CocciNELLiD^ eaten BY BIRDS. — As a Contribution to the discussion 

 on this subject (vide Entom. 192), I may record that Mr. W. P. Lowe sent 

 me the contents of the stomach of a road-runner, Geococcyx californianus 

 (Less.), a female, shot by him at the Big Aroyas, Pueblo Co., Colorado, 

 Dec. 5th, 1889. The food of this bird, as exemplified by the specimen 

 sent, consisted of Acrididae (grasshoppers), Coccinella sp., Curculionidae 

 [Ophyastes tuberosus and perhaps another allied species), and a blue-green 

 rugose metallic fragment of an unknown insect. — T. D. A. Cockerell; 

 3, Fairfax Road, Bedford Park, W., May 10, 1891. 



Deiopeia pulchella in the Transvaal. — In the report of the February 

 meeting of the Entomological Society I notice that Canon Fowler ex- 

 hibited a cocoon of this moth, which had been received from Lower 

 Burmah. Deiopeia pulchella is to me a very old acquaintance. I have 

 caught it in Surrey ; met with it again in the Malay Peninsula ; received 

 it from Mogador ; and now, at the other end of Africa, find it not at all un- 

 common. The time of its appearance in the Transvaal is very protracted. 

 I first captured it at the end of September — the beginning of our summer 

 — and now, at the end of March, it is still moderately common, principally 

 frequenting the open and treeless veldt. Flying in the strong sunlight, I 

 have often mistaken it for a large Lycaenid, as the pale azure blue of the 

 posterior wings is wonderfully reflected, and the red and black spots of the 

 anterior wings during flight are scarcely, if at all, visible. Its flight is 

 short, and it is easily captured. — W. L. Distant ; Pretoria, Transvaal, 

 March, 1891. 



PcEciLOCAMPA poPDLi AND INSECT VITALITY. — An instance of the 

 tenacity of life in insects, and their power of withstanding extremely low 

 temperatures, was exemplified in the case of a December moth (Pcecilo- 

 campa populi) which was found here by my brother, Mr. Frederick 



