368 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



several of these larvaa were seen, taken and killed. In one instance a girl 

 threw a brick at a larva, under the impression that it was a young snake. 

 I obtained one which went to ground about August 20th, Having at 

 different times failed to rear the species, I adopted the plan suggested by 

 Dr. Livett, of Wells, and alluded to ante, p. 812, with the happy result 

 that a perfect male imago emerged on the 80ih ult. A propos the killing 

 incident, I am reminded of what happened in the village of Radwinter, in 

 Essex, some years ago, a note on which I sent to the • Entomologist ' soon 

 after its occurrence. In this case a nightshade overgrowing a shed in a 

 farm-yard had been completely stripped of the leaves by these larvae. The 

 villagers, believing them to be locusts, one day made the occasion a kind of 

 holiday, and amused themselves by killing every one of thera. Great was 

 their chagrin when I enlightened ihem on this point, and informed them 

 that they were worth about a shilling each. — J. Jager ; 180, Kensington 

 Park Road, W., November, J 896. 



AcHERONTiA ATROPOS. — Larvse and pupae of Acherontia atropos have 

 been taken this season at Clevedon, Somerset, and at Cirencester, Glouces- 

 tershire. Some found at Clevedon, and reared by a friend who forced the 

 pupae a little, came out at the end of September. A pupa just given me 

 in Gloucestershire, still alive, I propose forcing, which has not been done 

 up till now. Is it not the case that hot, dry summers appear to be con- 

 ducive to the prevalence of this moth? — T. B. Jefferys; 17, New King 

 Street, Bath. 



Acherontia atropos bred.— Two larvae of A. atropos were taken on 

 Aug. 3rd last, at Rivenhall, Essex, and were sent on by a friend. One 

 imago emerged on Oct. 23rd, and the other on the 29th of the same 

 month; both are very fine specimens. — J. R. Cattle ; 115, King Edward 

 Road, Mare Street, E.C., Nov. 9th, 1896. 



Gatocala fraxini in the Orkneys. — A specimen of the above-named 

 rare insect was captured by Mr. James Shaw, shoemaker, of 7, Bridge 

 Street, Kirkwall, on Tuesday, Sept. 1st, on a telegraph-pole, below the 

 farm of Laverock, on the road between Stromness and Kirkwall. My 

 correspondent (Mr. John Flett, of Kirkwall), who has obligingly furnished 

 me with these particulars, also enquires in the course of his letter, — 

 ** Would not the great prevalence of south wind this season account for 

 the insect being found so far north ? " I deeply regret having to add 

 that Mr. Shaw passed away on Sunday, Sept. 18th, about a fortnight after 

 this recorded capture. I may also state that the said specimen of 

 C. fraxini was forwarded to me by parcel-post, and is in wonderfully good 

 condition, considering that it was not bred from the chrysalis.— (Rev.) 

 F. W. Walker; Oct. 15th, 1896. 



Gatocala fraxini at Scarborough.— A worn specimen of C. fraxini 

 was captured in the Spa ground, Scarborough, on Oct. 3rd, 1896, by 

 Mr. H. R. E. Grey.— J. H. Rowntree ; Nov. 18th, 1896. 



SOCIETIES. 



Entomological Society of London. — October 21st, 1896. — Prof. 

 Raphael Meldola, F.R.S., President, in the chair. Mr. J. J. Walker, 

 R.N., exhibited a specimen of Emus hirtus, L., taken at Gore Court 



