96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Entomological Notes, Captures, 8^c, 



D. hicuspis, 8$c., at Leominster. — From various parts of 

 the kingdom the complaint has reached me of the unusual 

 scarcity of insects this spring : such has not altogether been 

 the case here, although several species have not occurred 

 which are some seasons met with. The sallow-bloom was 

 very productive. Once again I had the pleasure of taking 

 each species of the genus Taeniocampa on one night. As 

 usual, Opima was very rare : only one example was taken, 

 Leucographa and Gracilis were very still when boxed, and 

 reached home in fine condition ; Miniosa and Populeti, on 

 the contrary, soon damaged themselves. Hybernating moths 

 were represented by three X. petrificata, three Semibrunnea, 

 one H. croceago, &c. : the last-named species had never 

 before been taken here. Early in April the weather became 

 very cold, and most insects disappeared, but nevertheless 

 several species of Eupitheciae occurred — Consignata, Irrigu- 

 ata (two, both unfortunately males), Indigata (in numbers), 

 Vulgata, Dodoneata, Abbreviata, Pumilata and Coronata. On 

 May 7th it became much warmer, and I spent a few hours in 

 a neighbouring wood, and found E. pendularia, P. petraria, N. 

 pulveraria, L. lobulata, Y. impluviata, P. tersata, C. silaceata, 

 P. lacertula, P. falcula, and other commoner species already 

 on the wing ; but the great take of the day was a splendid 

 female D. bicuspis, just emerged, sitting on a birch trunk 

 close to its pupa-case. Is it generally known that the larva 

 of B. Calluna?, in confinement, will feed well on ivy ? I proved 

 this to be the case last winter. — T. Hutchinson ; Grantsfieldy 

 Leominster, May 13, 1870. 



Deilephila Livornica in Staffordshire. — As far as I am 

 aware no entomologist has recorded the occurrence of this 

 very rare insect in Staffordshire, and therefore I desire to 

 state that I have obtained two specimens near Wolver- 

 hampton. The first emerged from the chrysalis on the 18th 

 of July, 1867, and, thinking the description may be of some 

 use to your readers, I will give you a short account. The 

 previous year I had reared Smerinthus Populi from small 

 Urvai feeding on the white poplar (P. alba), and during a 

 long absence from home the men, who found similar larvae 

 feeding on the poplar, put them away in the usual manner : 



