124 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



shall be glad at any time of further assistance. 

 January, 1881. 



2nd, C. brumata and H. defoliaria still out, and 

 in fair condition, females of latter in 

 crevices of bark, Shipley Glen. — (J. F.) 

 Very mild, C. brumata on the lamps 

 at night.— (S. L. M.) 



3rd, Chaffinch heard calling.— (S. L. M.) 



7th. — Several larvae of N. xanthographa and 

 X. rurea dug up from near the roots 

 of grass, apparently frozen, but on 

 bringing them indoors they imme- 

 diately began to show signs of life, 

 and walk about.— (S. L. M.) 



ifith. — Two Starlings observed at a house 

 end, going under the eaves, probably 

 selecting a breeding place. — (S. L. M.) 



23rd. — Dryop/ianta scutellaris bred. — (S. L. M.) 



29th. — Several (seven or eight) White-fronted 

 Geese observed hanging in the Brad- 

 ford market, four or five have been 

 in the Huddersfield market. Also 

 good numbers of Starlings, Fieldfares, 

 Woodcocks, Jack and Common Snipes, 

 &c. , from which good specimens may 

 sometimes be picked for preservation. 

 Several Snow-Buntings and many 

 Bramblings seen in the live-bird 

 dealers shops, caught during the 

 present storm, which has been of un- 

 precedented severity from the 4th, 

 but yesterday a very gentle thaw set 

 in, and to-day the surface frost has 

 gone. Birds have been very tame, 

 and fearless. In the neighbourhood 

 of Huddersfield more than 100 Snow 

 Buntings have been obtained. — 

 (S. L. M.) Several small flocks of 

 the latter have been seen, and some 

 obtained on the moss here. — (J. W. C.) 



31st. — Hedgesparrow heard singing— (S. L. M) 

 Rooks observed in their breeding 

 quarters. — (J. F.) P. pilosaria, first 

 specimen for the season, taken at 

 Shipley Glen. In Young Naturalist, 

 p. 94, it is stated that this species 

 may be taken from the boles of " Oak 



trees." So far as my experience goe: 

 it is not at all confined to Oak, bu 

 may be found on Birch, Alder, Hazel 

 or any other tree which may be ir 

 the immediate vicinity . Pilosaria, toe 

 is liable to great variation here, a fac 

 which I believe is not generally known 

 Specimens of a dark olive-green coloi 

 have been taken regularly, but las 

 year three or four beautiful blacl 

 specimens were obtained, one in m; 

 collection will ultimately be figurec 

 in Mr, Mosley's " Varieties of Britisl 

 Lepidoptera." It would be interestin 

 to hear the experience of others, witl 

 regard to the variation of this specie: 



w. c.) 



NOTES ON V. C-ALBUM 



By Mrs. Hutchinson, Leominster. 



I cannot at all agree that there is an 

 doubt as to V. C-album being double broodec 

 It certainly is much more abundant in th 

 autumn in most seasons, than at any othfc 

 part of the year, but some years we in vai 

 have searched for the species in any stag* 

 The hybernated butterflies, more or lei 

 worn, occur as early in the Spring as othf 

 species of the Vattessidc?. Any bright sunn 

 March day might cause them to be on 

 wing. In confinement the eggs hatch aboi 

 two days after being laid, and the larv 

 feed up quickly, I never knew one lingt 

 behind the others, although there may be 

 month's difference between the emergence 

 the first and last imago from the same broo 

 but this depends upon the ova being laid C 

 different days, judging by the insect in co 

 fmement. A bright summer da)- may cau 

 eight or nine ova to be laid, but if follow< 

 by dull weather, a week or a fortnight m 

 follow before another is deposited. By t| 

 end of May the hybernated insects are gorj 



I compile the following from my notes !' 

 insects set : — 



