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THE YOUNG NATURALIST, 



Yanessa C- album. — It is with pleasure we are able to record the occur- 

 rence of the above species in its old haunts during 1887, in as large numbers 

 as we were favoured with in 1886. In this latter year it was noteworthy 

 that of above 500 pupee brought us from the hop-grounds only one was ten- 

 anted by ichneuomons, this led us to foretell that in this year the species 

 would be likely to appear again plentifully, therefore we were prepared to see 

 hibernated specimens on the wing as soon as warm days came in the spring. 

 Ereshly emerged insects were on the wing in June, and again in early August, 

 and in September when the hops were gathered, larvse and pupae were plenti- 

 ful, and out of nearly 600 pupae only two have been ichneumoned. May we 

 not therefore hope that in 1888 this lovely butterfly will again be numerous. 

 — (Mrs.) E. S. Hutchinson, Grantsfield. 



Acherontia Atuopos. — Several entomologists having complained of the 

 difficulty they meet with in rearing imagines of the above species of the above 

 species from larva and pupa, I venture to advise a plan I have found most 

 successful. In 1886, four larvae were found here and brought me. One 

 was feeding on potato leaves, the other three were dug up, they had buried, 

 and formed most curiously domed cocoons, very large and so friable it was 

 impossible to prevent their breaking up. The three matured larvse were 

 placed on damp earth in flower pots, and covered with damp moss, to the 

 depth of two inches, and then the pots were furnished with sticks for the 

 moth to run up, gauzed over, and the pots were sunk in a very gentle hot 

 bed. They went into pupae, and produced fine imagines about the middle of 

 September. The younger larvae fed up, buried, was treated in the same way, 

 and produced a fine moth on November 6th. — (Mrs.) E. S. Hutchinson, 

 Grantsfield. 



Sphinx Convolvuli at Coventry. — I have failed in taking any Con- 

 volvuli this year, though the species has occurred here as elsewhere. The 

 first specimen I heard of was taken on 5th September, on the window of the 

 Reform Club, where it had doubtless been attracted by the light. This speci- 

 men was in fine condition, but was much rubbed by being handled by in- 

 experienced hands. I heard of another taken by a gentleman outside the 

 town, but I have not seen it. — Frank Burrows, Coventry. 



Xanthia aurago in October.*— On October 22nd, I captured at rest on 

 an oak an apparently fresh emerged specimen of Z. aurago. This specimen 

 was procured in a small wood not a quarter of a mile away from the smokest 

 and most sulphurized portion of our not alas ! over clean town. — A. E. Hall, 

 Norbury Pitsmoor, Sheffield. 



