b4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 
with rather poor. results,.I found, on coming-out of the. wood, this 
species in a clearing near the edge, and also netted four specimens of 
Syrichthus malvae there. I was much struck with the fact of 
Coenonympha pamphilus, being extremely local in this neighbourhood. 
Ispent from June 12th-24th at Penn, and yet with the exception of 
the clearing already mentioned, where I saw at the most half a dozen 
examples, I only saw the species in two other places, one at a village 
called Haslemere, the other between Chesham and Amersham, in both 
‘of which localities for about fifty yards they were very abundant, and 
yet there was none to be seen a little further on. I may add that on 
September 17th last I found a larva of Sphinx ligustri feeding on ash. 
It went to earth the next day.—A. M. Swarm, 5, Kelvin Terrace, 
Sydenham. January 22nd, 1900. 
SPHINX CONVOLVULI aT PEenartu.—A schoolboy brought me a full- 
grown larva of S. convolvuli, September 1st last. I have captured three 
of these beautiful moths at Penarth.—T. L. Hows, Beaufort House, 
Penarth. 
ACHERONTIA ATROPOS AT PrNnartH.—'T'wo fine pupe of Acherontia 
atropos were brought me by the stationmaster, who obtained them 
when digging potatoes on September 12th last. I put them in my 
breeding-cages and four days afterwards I found that one had emerged, 
the second following two days later.—Isiw. 
WINTER SPECIMENS OF GONOPTERA LIBATRIX.—Having noticed in your 
issue of January 15th, 1900, an account from one of your corres- 
pondents of the winter capture of Gonoptera libatria, I thought it might 
be of interest to mention that these insects are of very frequent 
occurrence in this house during the winter months. On December 
29th a fine ? appeared in the drawing-room at about 5.45 p.m., and 
after wandering aimlessly about for a short while, finally settled on a 
lady’s dress. We came across one or more specimens on an average 
every three or four days; and, as_ they are always in perfect condi- 
tion, I conclude that this species emerges late, and hybernates in 
dwellings or outhouses.—H. W. Suepuearp-Watwyn, Bidborough, 
Tunbridge Wells. 
EntomotocicaL Pins.—I was interested in reading the Rey. G. H. 
Raynor’s note on the above subject (Hnt. Rec., xi., p. 845), as 1am not 
at all satisfied with our present position. I must confess that in my 
use of No. 10, wherever practicable, I am, in Mr. Raynor’s eyes, one 
of the sinners, and, sad to say, an unrepentant sinner. Only this last 
summer I set a long series of Hupithecia linariata, thereon, and if I 
had sent any of them to Mr. Raynor I should have good ground to fear 
that his allusion to ‘‘ the greatest error of all’’ was aimed at me. But 
if black pins be used, I really cannot see the clumsy effect of No. 10, 
‘which satisfies me perfectly. To use a more slender pin would be all 
very well if time were no object to the entomologist; but I protest 
that it takes nearly twice as long to move in safety a series of insects, 
on No. 18 than a series on No. 10, and, to my mind, the bending of a 
pin is one of the most serious calamities that can befall a collector. I 
have every intention of setting my next year’s F. linariata (if they 
emerge) on the same pin. In short, I follow the advice of our good old 
friend, Dr. Knaggs, even more literally, perhaps, than he intended, and 
pin almost everything with No.8 or No. 10. Of course, like Mr. Raynor, 
Tam referring to Tayler’s pins; they are.:so excellent that the marvel 
