Insects. 3289 



at the least motion they darted away with the rapidity of an arrow, it was after much 

 labour and caution that I succeeded in capturing these rare Sphingides. I likewise 

 caught at the same time two specimens of Macroglossa Stellatarum. During the 

 month of September, in the same year, I captured the rare and beautiful Sphinx Con- 

 volvuli. — Thomas Durham Weir ; Boghead, by Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, August 26, 

 1851. 



Occurrence of Trochilium Chrysidiforme in Hampshire. — About a month since a 

 specimen of Trochilium Chrysidiforme was taken in this neighbourhood.— -Chas. Bar- 

 ron; Haslar, September 29, 1851. 



Hydrcecia Petasitis. — My friend, Mr. Noah Greening, of Warrington, has taken 

 several fine specimens of this species near that place ; and as it may be interesting to 

 some readers of the ' Zoologist' to know something of the habits of this recently dis- 

 covered species, I send a few particulars from his letters. " The larvae feed on the roots 

 of the butter-bur (Tussilago Petasites), and when full-grown leave the plant and change 

 to pupas in the earth. The perfect insects appear early in September, and begin to fly 

 about half-past 7 o'clock in the evening. Their flight is heavy and slow, and they are 

 easily taken when they fly above the leaves, but as they usually fly under the leaves 

 near the ground, they are soon lost sight of. Their time of flight is only about half an 

 hour." — Henry Doubleday ; Epping. 



Occurrence of Melitma Cinxia fyc. near Dover. — During a short tour along the 

 South coast in June last, I had the good fortune to find, near Dover, Melitaea Cinxia 

 and Setina irrorella, in some plenty, both in the same locality. I have still some spe- 

 cimens of both species, which I shall be happy to send in exchange to any collector 

 who may still want them. — F. M. Spilsbury ; Sommer shall, Uttoxeter, October, 1851. 



Capture of Heliophobus hispida, Tr. — Some six or seven years back, T. Lighton, 

 Esq., captured two specimens of this beautiful species in the Isle of Portland, it being 

 then new to England. I have long had a desire to search after it myself, but until 

 this autumn had no opportunity of doing so ; however, on the 21st of last month, I vi- 

 sited the Island expressly for the purpose, and in three days and nights, with the as- 

 sistance of two men, succeeded in finding fifteen fine specimens sitting on the rocks. 

 I hope to get a few more, having offered a liberal price for all that can be procured ; 

 so if they arrive, I shall have them to exchange. I also captured Epunda lichenia 

 and Aporophila australis, the latter at sugar. — Samuel Stevens ; 24, Bloomsbury St., 

 October 14, 1851. 



Capture of Bembidium Schuppelii in the North of England. — When in Cumber- 

 land in June, 1849, I took on the banks of the river Irthing, a single specimen of a 

 small Bembidium unknown to me, and which I transmitted to M. Duval, of Paris, 

 who pronounces it to be B. Schuppelii, Dej., a species not recorded as British. — Thos. 

 Jno. Bold, Angus' Court, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Oct. 19, 1851. 



Importation of Bruchus rufimanus into Newcastle-on-Tyne. — In the latter part of 

 September, 1850, a cargo of 1000 qrs. of large beans, imported here from Sicily, was 

 found to be much infested with Bruchus rufimanus, Sch., in the stages of larva, pupa, 

 and imago. Many of the beans had from three to five tenants. The perfect insects 

 are very active : when set free, they would simulate death for a second, then nimbly 

 regain their legs, running with a great deal of agility, taking wing quickly from any 

 slight prominence, and flying with the rapidity and ease of a Cicindela. They walked 

 on the glass of windows, much the same as Diptera, running up, down, or across with 

 equal readiness. I kept some of the beans in a glass vase for some months during the 

 IX. 2 R 



