ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FOE THE YEAE 1868. 171 



gradually becoming scarcer. This year (although very produc- 

 tive of Lepidoptera) I cannot find that more than a single speci- 

 men has been noticed, which v^as taken in our own garden at 

 Long Benton. 



Argynnis Aglaia, the Dark Green Fritillary. — Three specimens 

 of this pretty thing were taken in August, at Woodlands, Shotley 

 Bridge, by Mr. Bulmer, of Annfield Plain. 



Sphinx convolvuli, the Convolvulus Haivk-Moth. — ^A beautiful 

 specimen of this splendid insect was taken at sea, on the 29th 

 of September, on board the "Lord Raglan" steamer, when she 

 was about five miles off" Tynemouth, and is now in the collection 

 of Mr. J. Hamilton, Shieldfield, Newcastle, I have a large 

 specimen of the same species which was also taken at sea, but 

 on board a sailing vessel, to which it had been attracted by the 

 binnacle light when she was making for the Tyne. Unfortu- 

 nately it was much broken by its efforts to escape from confine- 

 ment in an inverted tumbler glass. When these large moths 

 are met with they should be killed as soon as possible, and this 

 may be quickly done by pushing a darning needle or shawl pin, 

 for about half its length, through the centre of a card, then, 

 grasping the moth firmly between your fore-finger and thumb, 

 so as to hold back the wings, you insert the point of the needle 

 or pin into the front of its thorax, just below the head, and 

 hold the contrary end of the needle or pin in the flame of a 

 candle, the heat from which will kill the moth in a few seconds. 

 The card prevents the proboscis, antenna, or wings from coming 

 in contact with the flame. 



Cherocampa porcellus, the Small Elephant Hawk -Moth, has 

 twice occurred this year, in both instances on the sea coast : 

 three specimens of the perfect insect were taken on the banks 

 opposite to St. Mary's Island in the last week of July, by Mr. 

 Johnson, Dean Street, Newcastle ; and the larva was found 

 feeding on the Yellow Lady's Bedstraw at the end of August, 

 on Whitley Links, by Mr. Henderson, Jesmond. 



