1868. 171 
I fancied,) neatly dissected away from their cards ; rows of tarsal and antennal 
tips testifying to the dexterity of the unknown operator. The insects being merely 
common species, and my curiosity piqued to discover what it was that caused the 
mischief, I allowed the setting board to remain for a fourth night, during which a 
sudden visit with a candle disclosed a large earwig, unctuously scooping out the 
ibdomen of a Myrmedonia. " His end was pieces." — E C . R.] 
An economic use for the galls of Cynyps lignicola. — I do not remember to have 
leen it mentioned anywhere that ornamental baskets made of wire, and covered 
nstead of beads, with rows of the galls of Cynvps lignicola, are hawked about for 
lale in the streets of London. 
The thought has struck me, that were the more regular specimens of this gall 
iarefully picked before the imago escapes, or rather before the titmouse disfigures 
hem in its search for the tasty morsel within, they might, after destruction of the 
Qmate by heat, serve as a cheap substitute for the turned wooden balls of similar 
ize, so often employed in ornamental woodwork. 
For this purpose they might be sorted according to size, and employed, par- 
icularly in cases where lightness would be desirable, and where their fragility 
rould not be exposed to too severe a trial : for instance, as inner borders on the 
•ames of looking-glasses and pictures, &c. — Albert Muller, Penge, S.E., Nov. 
th, 1868. 
Argynnis Lathonia at Margate. — It may interest many of your readers to know 
lat my friend, the Rev. G. Lewis, took at the above place, during September, two 
ne specimens of A. Lathonia; besides some dozens of Colias Hyale. — Augustine 
AViLLER, Manor Road, Stamford Hill, 21st October, 1868. 
Occurrence of Acherontia Atropos at Dumfries. — On the arrival of the mail train 
1 the evening of 27th September last, one of the em'ploy4s about the station 
)ticed on one of the carriages a large insect at rest, which turned out to be A. 
Wopos, and, through the attention of a kind friend, is now in my collection. It is 
very large specimen, measuring over five inches across the wings. — W.Lennon, 
■ichton Institution, Dumfries, October 5th, 1868. 
Sphinx convolvuli and Acherontia Atropos at Folkestone. — I had a fine specimen of 
convolvuli brought me last month by a boy. Acherontia Atropos has not been at all 
re, I have heard of several captures of larvas and imagos. One specimen of the per- 
!t msect was found by a boy among the grass in the Warren, and brought to me. 
ept it a few days, and it died a natural death. It frequently emitted the sounds 
juliar to its species, always raising the thorax and bending down the head and 
iomon as it did so. When breathing its last it gave out a long succession of 
.nds growing fainter and fainter, just like a succession of breathings, giving me 
impression that the noise was produced, not by friction, but by inspu-ation or 
ipiration of aii-. It made the noise when I first had it every time I merely touched 
kith my finger, but when it got accustomed to such treatment, it never made it 
hout rather rougher handling.— IIenry Ullyett, Folkestone, October, 1868. 
