1658 Insects. 



where it rested about a week, and did not, during that time, attempt to flutter about. 

 I placed some sugar, both dry and moist, close by, but could not discover that it had 

 been tasted. The insect then died, and it is now expanded and set. I took the others 

 from the mould, all of which are alive ; two of them appeared to be ready to come out, 

 the shell being thin and dry. I had the curiosity to strip one of its shell, using the 

 greatest cave possible, and found it beautifully formed, the mark on the thorax being 

 very perfect, and all the colours, so far, quite bright ; this was done nearly a fortnight 

 since ; and by placing it in a warm situation, I watched, hoping to see it arise and 

 walk, but there it is now — alive, but its wings not expanded ; how long it may so re- 

 main, is uncertain. I would recommend lining the inside of breeding boxes, above 

 the mould, with cloth, that these heavy insects may, when they burst forth, find good 

 hold for their feet, to support themselves in a perpendicular position. — T. Goatley ; 

 Chipping Norton, November 23rd, 1846. 



Occurrence of Acherontia Atropos, at Ely. — Several caterpillars of Acherontia 

 Atropos have been found at Ely, during the present year. I have had two ; the per- 

 fect insects appeared, one at the end of August, the other on the 7th of September 

 last, a third was brought to me alive, the following week. A domestic cat gave inti- 

 mation of the appearance of the first specimen, by endeavouring to get at the box, in 

 which the chrysalis had been placed, probably mistaking the cry for that of a mouse. 

 In 1837 I had seven caterpillars, all taken from the tea-tree (T.ycium Europceum), 

 one of them was of a dark brown colour, with the head and neck of a most beautiful 

 white ; all died in the chrysalis state. — Marshall Fisher ; St. Mary's Ely, \5th Octo- 

 ber, 1846. 



Sphinx Ligustri, three years in the pupa state. — On the 11th of June, 1846, I bred 

 a female of Sphinx Ligustri, which had remained three years in the chrysalis, the 

 eggs having been deposited in 1843 ; the greater portion of the brood came to ma- 

 turity in 1844, four or five last year, and the last one this year. I have reared this 

 insect from the eggs every year, for the last eight years, and in every brood, some in- 

 dividual specimens have remained two years in the chrysalis. The specimen bred on 

 the 11th of June, is richer in colour than those bred at the usual time ; perhaps, like 

 Chariclea Delphinii, it improves in colour by lying longer in the chrysalis. On the 

 30th of August, I bred a male of S. Ligustri, from a larva hatched from eggs of this 

 year, and which had only remained about a month in the chrysalis state. — Henry 

 Longley ; 1, Eaton Place, Park Street, Grosvenor Square, November 5th, 1846. 



Capture of Mamestra nigricans, near Gillingham. — In my journey to Sheppy, I 

 staid a short time at Chatham, and in my rambles among the salt-dykes, near Gilling- 

 ham, and close to the banks of the Medway, found a pupa of this insect under a stone, 

 which eventually changed to a very finely marked female. I understand Mr. Samuel 

 Stevens found the larva in a similar situation, this year, near Gravesend, in tolerable 

 plenty.— T. Ingall ; Bank of England, December llth, 1846. 



Occurrence of Noctua Templi, near Carlisle. — Will you please to insert in ' Zoo- 

 logist ' the capture of Noctua Templi. I got a very fine specimen this day, taken 

 in the city of Carlisle, and I had the pleasure of taking it out of the sets. This being 

 the first known specimen that has been taken in Cumberland, it will add to the local- 

 ities of this northern species. — James B. Hodgkinson; Harraby, near Carlisle, 31s/ 

 October, 1846. 



Capture of C. vetusta, at Tankerley Park. — A magnificent specimen of C. ve- 

 lusta was taken by my father at sugar in his garden, about a month ago. The timid 



