1890.] THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



155 



astonishment two of them at once flew back to their former companion, 

 which I had missed, and which was swinging away alone. The other 

 one flew off and I saw no more of him, but these three continued at 

 play as long as I cared to watch them. Though many insects appear 

 to amuse themselves in this way, I do not think it has been previously 

 recorded of the Ghost, and though I have watched the flight of the 

 various Swifts for many an hour, I never observed it before. — John E. 

 Robson, Hartlepool. 



The Swifts at Bishop Auckland. — I have met with all five of 

 the Swifts here, Lufiulinus and Humuli very commonly. Velleda is not 

 so abundant. Sylvinus is commoner, but requires a keen eye and 

 quick hand to take it on the wing. Hectus is a very local insect, and 

 I have taken it in the day time — G. Ross, Bishop Auckland. 



Triph^na subsequa at Forres. — I was at Forres, on Friday 

 last, the nth instant, and was fortunate in taking a short series of 

 Subsequa for the the first time in my experience, but apart from that 

 I have not done much owing to the wretchedly cold and wet weather 

 we have been getting this month. I was in Orkney 10 days ago, but 

 did not do anything good. — Arthur Hore, Aberdeen. 



Supposed variety of Rumia crat/egata. — On June 9th, I had the 

 pleasure of capturing a variety of Rumia cratcegata. The right wings 

 are normal except that at the base of the anterior wing there is a dark 

 rust-coloured, semi-transparent band. The left hind wing was also 

 normal, but the left anterior wing was very unusual. The inner margin 

 of the wing for about two lines in width and right across to the costa 

 is of the usual colour, but the remainder of the wing to the tip is of a 

 rusty colour, semi-transparent except that the wing-rays are all of the 

 normal hue and contrast vividly with the darker shade. — D. H. 

 Stewart, Radley. 



Mr. Stewart has sent me a water colour sketch of this supposed 

 variety. I am afraid it is only a specimen that has been slightly 

 singed by flame. I have one precisely similar which I prized very 

 highly till I learned that Cvatcegata was easily changed in this way, 

 and I knew mine had been through the gas. — John E. Robson, 

 Hartlepool. 



Lepidoptera at Stranraer in June. — My brother lias just re- 

 turned from Stranraer, where he was sketching in June, and has 

 brought with him some nice lepidoptera. Among them I find a series 



