NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 
19 
wrote a short criticism on these two insects as British species. Mr. 
Gregson came down on my suggestions in his usual manner, but he 
seems to have allowed his memory to lead him astray. Surely, of a l 
men, those who dabble in science, should thoroughly weigh their facts 
before writing them. — E d.] 
Vanessa atalanta attracted by the Sap of Elm. — Referring to 
Mr, Still’s note in last month’s Record, I have no recollection of ever 
observing V. atalanta at sugar, but I well remember, some fourteen 
years ago, whilst I was living atWitham in Essex, as I was walking along 
a lane just on the outside of the town, observing a large number of 
V. atalanta flying about the lane in front of me, and their mode of flight 
suggested to me that they had been disturbed in some way. I therefore 
halted and watched them for a few minutes, as I felt fairly certain if they 
had been disturbed they would, in a very short time, return to the same 
spot. I had not to wait long before I saw some of them returning to an 
elm tree, close to where I was standing. I at once got over the hedge 
into the meadow, and on approaching the tree, I saw a sight I shall ever 
recollect. The tree was a fair-sized elm, and from the trunk sap w'as 
exuding in several places and running down the tree. Upon this sap 
there were dozens of V. atalanta \ the tree was completely covered with 
them. The sun was shining full upon them, and as their wings waved 
up and down, the picture was an exceedingly pretty one. I watched 
them a short time, and then with a smart tap on the lower part of the 
trunk with my stick, sent them all into the air again. They flew round 
about the tree for a few minutes in a terribly disturbed state, eventually 
returning to the tree for the juices of the sap. — W. D. Cansdale, 
London Road, Forest Hill, S.E. March 2^tli, 1891. 
Ditula hartmanniana. — I should like to make an inquiry respecting 
this species, which Mr. Fenn informs me is taken commonly all round 
London. Although I have worked the London district a good deal, I 
have not yet been successful in taking it commonly. The only locality 
in which I have found it»is Tottenham,.and there very sparingly (6 being 
a good afternoon’s work). I find it difficult to box, being very wary, 
and the tree must be approached cautiously or the insect will go before 
you get the chance to box it. I have only found it resting on willow 
trunks in the afternoon, and although I have worked for it at dusk, I 
have never taken it on the wing. I should be much obliged if any one 
can give me information about the larva. Does it feed at night ? — A. 
J. Croker, 156, Tennison Road, South Norwood. March 20th, 1891. 
Observations on Species of TiENiocAMPiD^. — T. munda, I find, 
prefers the sugar bait before the sallow catkins. Mr. Fenn, on page 342 
of the Record, makes the same observation. I remember on one 
favourable evening, my friend Mr. Turner and myself were working at 
the sallows, and plenty of Z. cruda, T. stabilis, T. goihica, and T. insiabilis 
were taken, but only one T. munda ; yet other entomologists, working 
the same locality, were taking T. nmnda freely from the sugar, although 
they were working so close as to enable us to see their lanterns. The 
$ and $ plants of the tall sallows, appear to be equally productive at 
Wimbledon. The tall species appear to be preferred by criida, stabilis, 
and instabilis, the dwarf sallows producing gracilis, and rubricosa. 
I have visited the same trees for a fortnight before they have become 
unproductive. The dwarf sallows, at this time of the year, will well 
