2584 Insects. 



afternoon, near here in a valley between the Downs, flying rather swiftly over a variety 

 of flowers, upon some of which it settled for a moment or two. The second, a fine 

 female, I took on the 7th instant, about half-past two o'clock, p.m., in a clover-field, 

 on the Ringmer road, about a mile-and-a-half from here. Both specimens are in fine 

 preservation, and are the only ones I have seen or heard of being taken this year in 

 this neighbourhood. — H. Tompkins; School Hill, Lewes, Sussex, Sept. 22, 1849. 



Non-occurrence of Colias Hyale in 1849. — I was just about to send you a notice, 

 referring to the non-appearance of this insect, as the * Zoologist ' was put into my 

 hands and your note calling attention to this being the year for its reappearance 

 caught my eye. I am afraid this theory will fall to the ground, as I have just 

 returned from spending a week along the Kentish coasts, and not a specimen of 

 Hyale could I catch sight of, although I searched specially the clover, lucerne, and 

 other fields and sloping banks in all directions; and I have a friend, who has been 

 staying some time at Dover, who has also been on the look-out, without success ; but 

 perhaps some of your other correspondents have been more successful. Edusa is just 

 appearing. — Samuel Stevens; 24, Bloomsbury Street, August 30, 1849. 



More about Setting Flat. — In his eagerness to have a round with me, Mr. Douglas 

 says, " How is it that in placing a moth on a rounded cork the wings have to be made 

 to assume this form ? If they were naturally rounded this would not be necessary.'' 

 I am rather surprised at this remark. Is not the same care requisite in setting an in- 

 insect flat ? Has my friend forgotten the effect of death P That no insect when dead 

 retains either the flat or round appearance without setting ? Now, roundness conveys an 

 idea of motion ; flatness of rest. Can that then express motion which indicates 

 rigidity ? Let me be clearly understood. Every entomologist has seen Vanessa 

 Atalanta walking about in all the pride of beauty. Set the wings of this butterfly flat, 

 and try if you can thus give it the appearance of vjalking life. On the other hand, set 

 them round, and you may fancy that the living and walking butterfly is before you. If 

 the idea of walking cannot be conveyed by flat setting, much less can the vibratory 

 motion of flight. What holds good in this is equally applicable to a more minute spe- 

 cies. I pass over the effect of damp ; it cannot enter into the argument. I fear my 

 friend's variation is still more faulty than his air. I might add much more were 

 I not unwilling to prolong the subject. — John Sircom, Jun. ; Brislington, September 

 3, 1849. 



Parasitic Larva observed in the Nests of Hornets, Wasps, and Humble Bees. — I see 

 you have noticed in the Zoologist (Zool. 2375) that Mr. Westwood had exhibited a spe- 

 cimen of the larva of Velleius dilatatus taken by me in a hornet's nest. If you think a 

 few hasty remark on the economy of some of the parasitic larvae I have observed in the 

 nests of hornets, wasps and humble bees will interest your readers, I shall be happy to 

 furnish you with the following. I have often amused myself with taking the nests of 

 these insects, and have bred some of the larvae which are found as parasites in them. 

 Last year I was on the look-out for nests of hornets and wasps for the museum at Kew, 

 as my friend Sir W. Hooker seemed to think these products of our " native paper- 

 makers '' would be legitimate appendages to his most interesting illustrations of 

 Economic Botany. Notwithstanding the ticklish character of these articles, and the 

 bad reputation which railway traffic bears for careful handling of its luggage, if you 

 ever visit the Kew Gardens, I think you will say that I have thoroughly succeeded in 

 transporting some handsome specimens free from all injury. Next to the care taken 

 in their packing, the great secret lay in myself attending them as a fellow-traveller, 



