Insects. 945 



annoyed at my proceedings, and I am not at all prepared to defend myself, but in this 

 case I in some degree avert the mischief by public avowal. If the practice of intro- 

 ducing insects, or plants (for my observations apply to them with even more force), were 

 to become general, lists of local faunas would soon be of doubtful authority, and the 

 highly interesting subject of the geographical range of insects and plants would be 

 involved in error; still worse would be the loss of interest in our individual captures, 

 which would be another certain result, and it would perhaps be as baneful to the 

 health of the entomological world as the practice of buying specimens for our cabinets 

 has already proved to be. For, even if dealers were universally honest, and none of 

 them practised gross and mischievous deceptions, numbers of people must have been 

 disgusted with Entomology, on seeing that the comparative excellence of their c: nnets 

 must depend so immediately on the length of their purses, rather than on their own 

 industry and ingenuity : a rich man has an undue advantage, if advantage it be, but 

 it seems much the same as if a squire were to buy the trophies of the chase that adorn 

 his hall. I have inserted the English name of Papilio Machaon, a practice which, 

 where it is possible, should be more generally adopted in ' The Zoologist,' as it is a 

 great kindness to ladies, and other unscientific people. — T. Wolley ; Trinity College, 

 Cambridge, March 18, 1845. 



Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa in Somersetshire. While entomologizing in Goblin 

 Combe, a romantic glen near Cleeve, in Somersetshire, in August last, a fine specimen 

 of this beautiful insect settled on the rock before me, and ere I could secure it, it took 

 flight, and descended a lofty precipice ; in a few minutes it reappeared almost in the 

 original spot, but again took flight down the precipice, and finally eluded my grasp, to 

 my great mortification. — J. F. Stephens; Eltham Cottage, Foxley-road, Brixton, 

 March, 1845. 



Capture of Argynnis Lathonia and Vanessa Antiopa in Kent. Mr. Thomas Price, 

 formerly of Shoreham, in Kent, and now of London, informs me he captured twelve 

 specimens of Argynnis Lathonia in woods in the parish of Shoreham, in or about the 

 year 1839 ; he describes these beautiful butterflies as frequenting the blossoms of 

 thistles in open parts of the woods : three of these specimens having been presented to 

 Mr. Ingall, are now in that gentleman's cabinet. Mr. Price also captured a single 

 specimen of Vanessa Antiopa in the same locality. — Edward Newman ; 9, Devonshire- 

 street, Bishopsgate, April 2, 1845. 



Occurrence of Lytcea leucographa near York. During the early part of April last, 

 I took off a sallow (near York), when in blossom, a male specimen of a Noctua that 

 was new to me. In corresponding with Mr. S. Stevens, a short time ago, he informs 

 me that it is the Lytea "leucographa" of Hubner, and that some five or six were 

 taken at Leith Hill, in Surrey, last spring, three of which have come into his possession. 

 I have in my collection a specimen in fine condition, which I took at Langwith, a 

 locality near York, in 1834, which is well figured in ' Wood's Index' as Lytea "leu- 

 cographa," by which name my specimen is recorded in 4 The Entomologist.' Mr. S. 

 Stevens also tells me, that the specimen from which Wood's figure is taken is now 

 considered to be but a variety of Lytea " albimacula." Should you consider the 

 above capture of mine (of a species which I believe to be of rare occurrence), worthy 

 of being recorded in your valuable periodical, I shall feel greatly obliged by its 

 insertion. — Robert Cook ; Colliergate, York, March 25, 1845. 



Capture of Moths with Sugar, fyc. I have tried Mr. Douglas's receipt for pre- 

 paring sugar for moths with some success. I find that of coarse brown quality, when 



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