Insects. 2547 



and even the end of August, to be the period of its flight ; and Lewin names it the 

 ' August skipper.' I perceive that Old Sarum, which is but a few miles from Durn- 

 ford, is stated to be a locality for the species, and I have no doubt of its occurring in 

 many places in that neighbourhood. I am at a loss to understand why Lewin should 

 have expressed a doubt of Pamphila Comma being a distinct species, and considered 

 it " but merely a variety of the large skipper" (P. Sylvanus), from which, however, it 

 is abundantly distinct, not to mention also that Sylvanus appears much earlier in the 

 season. — W. T. Bree ; Allesley Rectory, August 1, 1849. 



Occurrence of Heliothis marginata at New Brighton. — A male specimen of this rare 

 moth, in good condition, was taken about the end of June last, at rest on the grass 

 under a wall, by my nephew, Theodore Robson, of Liscard. — Nicholas Cooke ; Wea- 

 verliam, August 13, 1849. 



Capture of Lithosia pygmceola. — I have succeeded, in company with my friend 

 Mr. Bouchard, in taking a few specimens of this new and rare Lithosia, discovered 

 by me about seven years ago on the coast of Deal : only two specimens were taken at 

 that time : these were named by Henry Doubleday, Esq. They are very local, being 

 only found over a space of about four hundred yards in extent, and are very suscepti- 

 ble of change of weather, for on its being the least cold or windy not one will make 

 its appearance for two or three days together, but lie secreted at the roots of the 

 herbage : the females make their appearance some days later than the males, and are 

 rather deeper in colour ; their ova are of a bright yellow colour, and hatch in about 

 three days. I have not yet discovered their food, but hope to do so in a little time. 

 I have a few specimens more than I require for my own cabinet, and shall be most 

 happy to oblige a brother of the net wanting the same. — H. T. Harding ; 1 , York 

 Street, Church Street, Shoreditch, August, 1849. 



Occurrence of Rhodaria sanguinalis in England. — This lovely little Pyralis was 

 taken on the 25th of June, at New Brighton, Lancashire, by Stephen Robson, and 

 sent to me to name by my friend Nicholas Cooke, of Warrington. I had previously 

 received two specimens, in rather a faded condition, from the fens, taken I believe on 

 the border of Monk's Wood. Mr. Cooke's specimen is in beautiful preservation. — 

 Henry Doubleday ; Epping, August 17, 1849. 



On setting Lepidoptera flat. — When your worthy correspondent, Mr. Douglas, 

 stated that the round* method of setting was not natural, he most assuredly over- 

 looked the fact that insects in their natural state have not aflat appearance. The onlv 

 species that T know whose wings can at all be said to come under this denomination 

 are ^Egeria apiformis and Trochilium Ichneumoniformis, with their allied species. 

 Yet these, as also the Noctuae and Geometrae, Mr. Douglas sets round. So his tune 

 begins in one key and ends in another. As to the species being more readily distin- 

 guished by their being set flat, I have no hesitation in affirming that there is not an 

 entomologist in the kingdom who could not as readily distinguish any of my Micro- 

 Lepidoptera as those set by my more experienced friend. We may be ignorant of 

 the true name, being misled by description ; but no sooner do we compare specimens, 

 than, notwithstanding every variety of setting, the discovery is perfectly easy. We 



* By being " set round," I mean the gradual sloping of the wings, not the mere 

 rounding their extremities, although something may be said in defence of this, seeing 

 that Adela viridella bends its wings so as to cover the extremitv of the body. 



