158 [June, 



of the nights were so cold that it was natural enough to find specimens of either sex 

 remaining in the same place for several successive days ; but a month later it was 

 different. One day towards the end of April I noticed that a female was sitting on 

 a conspicuous tree at a street corner which I usually pass daily, and there I saw it 

 day after day for nearly a fortnight. A day or two later two others established 

 themselves on the next tree in different places, and there they remained until after 

 the first had disappeared. Meantime others took up positions in other places, and 

 remained for various periods — sometimes at a considerable height, and I came to 

 understand it was a habit with the species. Some nights were warm, some cold, a 

 few wet, many dry, but it made no difference. I touched one, but found it quite 

 lively after standing ten days in the same place. I think that their eggs were all 

 laid, and they had nothing more to do — and did it. — Chas. G. Baerett, 39, Linden 

 Grove, Nunhead : 3Iay I2th, 1890. 



On denuding wings of Lepidoptera. — Will any reader of the Ent. Mo. Mag. 

 kindly let me have particulars of the process called, I believe, the " Waterhouse 

 process," by which the wings of Lepidoptera can be cleanly denuded of scales, for 

 the purpose of studying the neuration ? — Colbean J. Wainweight, 147, Hall 

 Eoad, Handsworth, Staffordshire: May, 1890. 



[The wing is first dipped in spirit till it is wet through, then taken out and the 

 spirit drained off with blotting paper, but the wing must not be allowed to dry. 

 Place the wing in eau de javelle (potassium hyperchloritej, and in a few minutes the 

 scales will disappear. The time will vary from three to ten minutes, according to 

 the density of the scales, the size of the wing, and the strength of the liquid. As 

 soon as the wing is clear, it should be taken out and washed in water or spirit ; it is 

 best to float the wing on a card, and gently brush it from base to tip with a camel's 

 hair pencil, first one side, then the other ; the wing can be turned over by floating 

 it in water. The wing may then be mounted on card, the edges being fixed with 

 thin gum. For taking the wings out of the eau de Javelle I use a thin edge of wood 

 and a card, as the liquid destroys brushes. The eau de Javelle deteriorates very soon 

 by exposure, and should be kept in a stoppered bottle ; the fumes should not be 

 inhaled. — Chas. O. Wateehousk.] 



T/te late Prof. Frey's Collection. — We are able to announce that this collection 

 has been acquired by the Trustees of the British Museum. The collection of 

 European (or pala?arctic) Lepidoptera will, by this addition, become very rich and 

 representative. — Eds. 



HetcBrius morsus, Lee. : an entomological tragedy. — On the 23rd of April I 

 hunted under rocks on a sunny bank at West Cliff, and among other good things 

 found was a small Histerid beetle clinging to the under-surface of a stone which 

 covered the nest of a brown ant, a])parently, without doubt, Formica fusea, L. I at 

 0)ice posted my beetle to Dr. John Hamilton, and here is his reply: — "As you sur- 

 mise, the Histeride you found is a great rarity, being Heta-rius morsus, Lee. The 

 only specimen in existence, so far as I know, is Dr. Leconte's specimen type, taken 

 in California at Fort Tcjon ; but, alas ! (I am afraid almost to tell you) that is still 



