Mollusks — Insects. 



8051 



Tribe Senoculina. — Fara. Dysderim. 

 Dysdera Hombergii. Trosachs. 



Segestria senoculata. Trosachs, Pentlands, and Loch Rannoch. 



O. Pickard-Cambridge. 



Bloxworth, Blandford, Dorset, 

 March 31, 1862. 



On the use of Glycerine for preserving Shells.— I wish to call attention to the use 

 of glycerine in preserving shells. My father having some fine specimens of Crenatula 

 which betrayed a tendency to crack, we applied a few drops of purified glycerine to 

 them, rubbing it in with the finger. This effectually cured them without giving the 

 unnatural lustre of oil. We have also used the same substance with Unios and other 

 bivalves with success, and to many univalves having a scaly epidermis. We also tried 

 to get rid of the unsightly film of salt which a dry atmosphere brings out on so many 

 univalves, but failed at first. We have now, however, found out the proper treatment. 

 The shells should first be soaked in spring water for about a fortnight, the water being 

 changed several times. When they are dried they appear as bad as ever, but 

 are very rough to the touch. If a little glycerine be now rubbed in, the proper colour 

 comes out perfectly. In this way we have restored Phasianellae and others to a fine 

 state. The method will not be found to succeed with shells that have a highly 

 polished surface, as Cypraeae. An additional recommendation is that the glycerine 

 may always be washed off. — F. Archer. 



Occurrence of Deilephila lineata at Deal. — A specimen of this rare insect was brought 

 in by a boy, who took it at rest on a stack. It was very little wasted, and far from a 

 bad specimen. This must have lived through the winter. — H. J. Harding ; 171, Lower 

 Street, Deal, May 6, 1862. 



Capture of Deilephila lineata and Heliothis peltigera near Plymouth. — On 

 Monday, the 5th instant, I was called to inspect some recent lepidopterous captures, 

 and amongst them found two specimens, male and female, of Deilephila lineata. 

 The particulars of their capture are as follows : — During the evening of the 29th of 

 April, Mr. Bolitho, of Laira, observed a large moth feeding on the wing, humming- 

 bird fashion, and he, thinking it some rarity, was quickly on the spot, net in hand, 

 but the moth would not allow a close approach, and was instantly out of sight. This 

 insect was not observed again till the evening of the 2nd instant, when a female speci- 

 men came to the flowers in the garden, and whilst engaged absorbing the sweets 

 therefrom was dexterously swept into a bag-net by Mr. Bolitho. A second specimen, 

 a male, was captured, on the 4th instant, by the same hand, at the same place, and in 

 the same manner as the first-mentioned specimen. A third specimen was also seen. 

 The above-named gentleman also took a female of Heliothis peltigera : this species 



