Insects, 1005 



of glass is to be fixed on the nippers, and a sufficient quantity of 

 Canada balsam is to be taken up on the end of the wire to allow a 

 full drop to be placed on the slide where required. The centre of 

 the slide is then to be rested across the chimney of the lamp, until 

 the balsam begins to spread, when it should be immediately with- 

 drawn. The object is now to be placed on this drop of balsam, and 

 covered with another drop. The slide may now remain for two or 

 three minutes, to allow the balsam to penetrate the object ; the thin 

 glass is then to be placed as nearly horizontal as possible upon the 

 balsam covering the object. Now, holding the slide in rather an 

 inclined position at one end by the nippers, place the other end over 

 the centre of the chimney of the lamp, the balsam gradually liquifies 

 and flows to the extreme edge of the thin glass, carrying with the 

 surplus all air-bubbles on that side : the same process is to be re- 

 peated with the other end of the slide, after which it is to remain in 

 a horizontal position until nearly cool, when the centre of the upper 

 or thin glass is to be pressed with a small piece of wood, rather 

 pointed. This expels all superfluous balsam, and with it any extra- 

 neous matter. Should after this any air-bubbles be generated by the 

 object, they will disappear in a few days. — J. W. 



Occurrence of Vanessa C-album in Cumberland. I received a letter from my father 

 at Carlisle a short time ago, recording the capture of Vanessa C-album on the 10th of 

 April, 1845, by himself, being the first specimen that has been known to have been ta- 

 ken in Cumberland. It may perhaps be interesting to some of the readers of ' The 

 Zoologist,' to hear of its occurrence so far north. — J. B. Hodgkinson ; 12, Friday St., 

 Preston, May 15, 1845. 



Plusia Inter rogationis and P. bractea fly by night. Observing an enquiry whether 

 Plusia Interrogationis and bractea fly by night (Zool. 889), I believe I may safely re- 

 ply in the affirmative, having taken a specimen of P. bractea at 10, P.M., July 12, 

 1841 (flying round the blossoms of the catchfly, in company with P. Festucae, Iota 

 and Percontationis), near Falkirk, Stirlingshire; and of P. Interrogationis I took one 

 specimen, at Kilmun, Argyllshire, at 9, P.M., July 8, 1843. — H. T. Stainton ; Lew- 

 isham, April 1, 1845. 



Caterpillar of Acronycta Salicis, (Curtis). In Curtis's ' British Entomology' is a 

 beautiful plate of this rare moth, along "with the caterpillar from which the perfect 

 insect was bred?' 1 Some mistake must have occurred, the caterpillar figured being that 

 of Menyanthidis ; it is afterwards made into a variety of this insect in his Catalogue. 

 I am positive it is not a variety of Menyanthidis. My friend, John Thomas, bred a 

 female specimen from a caterpillar I took off a raspberry-bush, and observed no dif- 

 ference in it from that of Rumicis. On the 2nd of June, 1844, I captured a beautiful 

 male on the bole of a fir, and at the same time several specimens of Rumicis ; if a va- 



