NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. S'd 



About Kenmare I have taken a series of very black specimens, 

 with the markings very obscure ; but at Markree Castle, and in 

 Tyrone and elsewhere, the typical form also occurs, but not 

 numerously. 



Hadena protea, Bork. — Mr. Dillon records the capture of one 

 at Clonbrock, the only Irish example, as Birchall's record of its 

 being found commonly in Wicklow was founded on mistaken 

 information. 



Hadena glauca, Hh. — The first record of this species was 

 supplied by Mrs. Battersby, of Cromlyn, who took three specimens. 

 It was then taken near Derry by Mr. Campbell and myself. 

 Since then I have found it numerous at Altadiawan, Tyrone; 

 Toberdaly, King's Co. ; and Mr. Bristow at Cave Hill, Belfast. 

 Other records are Agher, Meath {Miss B,) ; Markree Castle, 

 Sligo ; Howth, one (6r. V. II.) ; Enniskillen, one {Col. Partridge) ; 

 and one at Black Kock, a bare rocky islet, some eight miles off 

 the coast of Mayo. Those which I have seen are dark and richly 

 marked, except the specimen of Mr. Campbell's capture, which 

 belongs to var. lappo^ Dup. Mr. Tutt mentions havmg received 

 specimens of this variety also from Belfast, where, however, the 

 type form prevails. This moth liies ni sunshine to flowers, and 

 1 have taken them at those of Menyanthes trifoliata. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



On Setting Lepidoptera. — It has often struck me as most un- 

 fortunate that a greater uniformity m setting has not yet been attained 

 among entomologists. Everyone must allow that a series of insects 

 well set by one pair of hands looks infinitely better than a series made 

 up of specimens got by exchange from various sources; some of which 

 may be set so low on the pin as to touch the paper, others so high as 

 to be nearly at the top of the pin ; while the fore wings of some may 

 be almost in a straignt line with each other, and of others so pulled 

 forward as to be nearly at right angles. The object of this paper then 

 is to give some hints which may help young collectors in aiming at 

 greater uniformity, and also to impart some "tips" which I myself 

 have found useful. 



The first step towards setting an insect is proper pinning; and 

 this step should never be taken with an insect that is not in a properly 

 relaxed condition. Insects, like all other animals, are liable shortly 

 after death to a peculiar rigidity of the muscles, which is called riyur 

 mortis J and those killed with chloroform and the cyauide bottle are 

 especially affected by it. After one or two days in the bottle or in a 

 slightly damp box, this rigidity will be found to have passed off, and 

 the insect will be in a perfectly relaxed state. Until this is the case 

 an insect cannot be pinned and set without difficulty and risk of injury. 



