Insects. 2151 



me. Finally it disappeared among the trees at the road-side. — /. W. Douglas; 

 Peckham, April 6, 1848. 



Centra vinula killed ivith Chloroform. — A puss-moth, which I had possessed as a 

 caterpillar last summer, emerged from the chrysalis yesterday. I at once placed him 

 in a large stoppered bottle, dropped a few drops of chloroform on the stopper and 

 closed it. The insect instantly became affected, and death ensued in a few seconds. 

 The greater convenience of a fluid when compared with the inconvenience of using 

 laurel leaves on the one hand, and on the other the safety of using chloroform as com- 

 pared with the risk attending prussic acid, would, I should suppose, make the plan 

 now proposed the one most available for general use. A small portion of sponge 

 glued or gummed to the bottom of the bottle to receive occasionally a few fresh drops 

 of chloroform would make the apparatus complete; or a little piece of blotting-paper 

 dipped in chloroform and dropped into the bottle answers as well. A little chloro- 

 form also dropped into the collecting box or cabinet, receiving fresh specimens, would 

 have the double advantage of preventing revivals and driving away all depredators. — 

 T. Bell Salter; Ryde, May 16, 1848. 



Capture of Achatia spreta on Willow Blossoms. — I take the liberty of sending the 

 notice of a capture made upon the 1st of April last upon willow blossoms, which 

 seems to me rather unusual, viz., a very fine specimen of Achatia spreta. This moth 

 has hitherto been known, I think, as a summer species. Also upon the same night 

 Pterophorus galactodactylus. I should not trouble you with these remarks, did I not 

 think that some of your readers might profit by the news, and keep a " sharp look 

 out" in those neighbourhoods where the willow blossoms late. — W. E. Hambrough ; 

 Nulton, Suffolk, April 6, 1848. 



Capture of Glcea rubricosa on Sallow Blossoms. — During the early part of April I 

 took, in tolerable abundance, Glaea rubricosa, whilst regaling itself on the catkins of 

 our early sallow {S. caprcea). Westwood says it is a rare species, and figured the 

 larva on Rumex acutus. This plant, however, does not grow here. It must, there- 

 fore, be a less exclusive feeder than is generally supposed. I shall be glad if any 

 gentleman who has given attention to the breeding of the caterpillar of rubricosa, 

 would kindly state whether he has found it to feed on any other plant besides R. acu- 

 tus. R. obtusifolius is unusually abundant with us, as is R. acetosa. — Peter Inch- 

 bald ; Storthes Hall, April, 1848. 



Further Remarks on Apterous Female Geometrce. — Since I sent you my remarks on 

 the females of our British Geometrae, I have had an opportunity afforded of describ- 

 ing from a living specimen the characteristic markings of the female of Hibernia leu- 

 cophaearia. The insect before me was found on the bole of a birch on the 25th of 

 March. Like its mate, it is the smallest of the Hibernias except rupicapraria. The 

 scales on the thorax and upper part of the abdomen are variously tinted with gray, 

 black, and ochre ; while those of the under side are of a pale dun colour, with the ad- 

 mixture of a few black and white scales, particularly visible on the legs. It is nearly, 

 though not entirely, apterous, the rudimentary wings being distinctly visible with 

 a good magnifier. — Id. 



