86 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



side. The insect must be then left until quite set. This may be 

 tested by touching the end of the body with a pin or needle. If this 

 is quite stiff and immovable, the insect may safely be considered set. 



To conclude : uniformity in setting among collectors, for their own 

 cabinets at least, is to be obtained : — first, by always pinning in one 

 way ; second., by always raising the insect to the same proportional 

 height up the pin, half-way being an easy way of obtaining this 

 regularity ; third, by taking an illustrated entomological book as a 

 pattern for the angle of the wings with the body; and fourth, by using 

 the same size of board for insects of the same size. — F. C. Woodforde ; 

 January 21st, 1896. 



Vanessa urtice ab. — In looking through my collection of Lepido- 

 ptera, I have just come across a specimen of Vanessa urtica labelled: 

 *' August 20th, 1892. Castle Hill, W." It measures only a trifle over 

 11 in. across the fore wings. Is not this exceptionally small for this 

 species ? I well remember taking the specimen, and being surprised 

 upon netting same to find that it was F. iirtica. There is nothing 

 very unusual about the coloration. The blue markings are much paler 

 than ordinarily, especially on the fore wings, and instead of being 

 wedge-shaped as usual are kidney-shaped. The two spots near the 

 middle of each fore wing are very small and inconspicuous, and are 

 enclosed in a cream-coloured space, which on the left wing juts out as 

 far as the border. The under side, excepting that it is of a reddish 

 hue, shows no difference from the ordinary marking. I should like 

 to know whether this is an uncommon form of the species — A. E. 

 Allworthy; 61, Lancaster Eoad, Stroud Green, N., February 9th. 



Tenacity of Life in Insects. — In reference to this subject the 

 following notes may be of interest. When I was still new to collecting 

 in South France, I discovered one day, to my great joy, a large female 

 of Saturnia pyri hidden away in some bushes. The specimen was the 

 first I had ever caught, and I decided, on account of its large body, to 

 stuff it (a quite unnecessary operation ; I have kept dozens since 

 unstuffed). The moth was first killed (apparently) by being forced, 

 with some difficulty, into a cyanide-bottle, where it was left, I should 

 think, about an hour. The abdomen was then emptied (the contents 

 including a large number of ova), and the cavity filled with cotton- 

 wool soaked in a saturated solution of mercuric chloride. The insect, 

 pinned and set, was discovered next day attempting to fly away from 

 the setting-board. In reference to Zygaenid^e, a very strong cyanide- 

 bottle kills slowly. Bisulphide of carbon applied with a brush stupifies 

 instantly, but it may be necessary to apply again later to kill effectually. 

 It is unpleasant to use ; impossible indoors. — J. C. Warburg ; Villa 

 Raphael, Cannes, January 31st, 1896. 



Important Sale of British Lepidoptera. — On the 9th and 10th 

 of March next, the collection of Mr. Clarence Fry will be sold by 

 auction at Stevens's, King Street, Covent Garden. I lately had an 

 opportunity of looking through this collection, and it occurred to me 

 that it might be of interest to make a note of some of the rarer species 

 contained therein. In the first place there are several grand examples 

 of the extinct Chrysophanus dispar ; a few examples of Sesia andreni- 



