86 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
nished the paper headed ‘ Errors of Ob- 
servation, ’ in the last number of the 
‘ Intelligencer,’ as having fallen into the 
“error” of “drawing a conclusion from 
unsuitable observation,” I trust I may be 
permitted to say a few words iu self- 
defence. 
My books are at present packed up, so 
that I cannot refer to my printed remarks 
on pupa-digging ; hut, on looking over 
the MS., I find these preliminary obser- 
vations, which, if I mistake not, were also 
published: — “Whenever, in the following 
remarks, any statement is made as to 
certain circumstances being uncommon, 
usual or invariable, I wish it to be dis- 
tinctly understood that they are so merely 
as far as my own personal experience 
goes.” 
When, therefore, I used the “ dictum,” 
“ as to hedge-rows, it is no use trying 
them,” I simply gave that as my opinion, 
based “ on my own personal experience.” 
Your correspondent adds, “ the error in 
this case the information 
sought to be given was the comparative 
value of different localities for pupae ; and 
the only observations from which such 
an inference could justly be drawn would 
have been those in which each locality had 
its equal share of attention, which in this 
case it evidently had not." Permit me to 
ask your correspondent, on what he 
grounds the assertion conveyed in the 
words I have italicised ? The reasonable 
and obvious conclusion, as it appeal’s to 
me, to draw from so distinct and positive 
a statement, on my part, would be, that I 
had given sufficient observation. How- 
ever this may be, such is the fact. I have 
very often tried hedge-rows, and it was 
not till after repeated failures that I ven- 
tured to give it as my opinion that it was 
useless to try them. That opinion (con- 
fining myself of course to my own per- 
sonal experience) I reiterate. I have 
made the attempt several times this year, 
hut with the same want of success, and 
I have never been so fortunate as to find 
a single pupa in such localities. A 
friend of your correspondent, it appears, 
remarked during the reading of my paper, 
“ I know some people who get numbers 
of pupa; from hedge-rows.” Will that 
friend kindly publish in your columns 
some information as to the “ modus 
operaudi,” i. e. what implement is neces- 
sary? what part of the hedge-row is the 
best? and what insects have been thus 
taken ? I should feel really much obliged 
for some information on these points. 
With the bitter your correspondent 
mingles a little of the sweet, and I feel 
much gratified by the statement that my 
paper has given an impetus to pupa- 
collecting. It had already struck me, 
in reading the ‘ Intelligencer,’ that this 
mode of collecting was more pursued 
than formerly, and I had hoped that my 
observations had, in some measure, con- 
tributed to bring it about. I need only 
mention the capture (as recorded in dif- 
ferent numbers of the ‘ Intelligencer’) of 
four such insects as Conspicillaris, Flue - 
tuosa, Bicuspis and Iiicifolia in this way, 
to prove that it is one of the very best 
methods of capturing Lepidoptera. I 
hope, ere long, to communicate a few 
more “hints” as to pupa-digging, but I 
must make one observation here: Mr. 
Shield, iu his work ‘ Practical Hints,’ 
remarks (p. 134), “The tyro who may 
wish to diversify his employment may 
profitably do so by pupa-digging ; the 
latter half of this month (July) is the 
best time for this operation, as by then 
the greater part of our spring and summer 
feeding larva; will have arrived at the 
pupa state,” &c. 
I must venture to dissent from this 
statement, the period stated being, in my 
opinion, a fortnight too soon. Certainly 
some pupae will be found, but you will 
much more frequently turn up the larva:, 
before they have changed, and the gain 
of the former will, in general, but poorly 
compensate the loss of the latter. 
Play ford, Ipswich. J. Grkene. 
