92 
THE entomologist’s RECORD. 
morning, afternoon, or evening, to enable them to use their wings when 
their period of flight arrived. — C. Fenn, Lee. Aprils 1891. 
It seems to me that the result of the discussion on this subject has 
been to show a very general agreement with the broad proposition I 
laid down in my last note. Even Mr. Fenn, who is the most doughty 
opponent, practically yields the point when he admits that time of 
emergence has some relation to time of flight. If this be so, however, 
why should the dusk-flying Sphinges follow the example of their day- 
flying congeners and emerge in the early morning as I have found to 
be the case with the hawk moths ? I do not think breeding cage 
observations are so reliable as field observations, inasmuch as our 
pupae can hardly be considered in stain natura. Of course, field 
observations are less frequently possible, but a careful record of the 
times of finding insects either unexpanded or drying their wings, might 
in time be worth generalising. — Francis John Buckell. April 2gi/i, 
1891. 
Northern Range of Hemerophila abruptaria, — I should 
like to mention that this insect has been discovered as far north 
as Stonehaven in Kincardine, but I never heard of its being taken in 
Aberdeen. — Wm. Reid. March 23^^, 1891. 
Foodplant of H. senecionis (cretacella). — By the notes on 
the life habits of H. se 7 iecionis in the Record (vol. i., p. 326), some of your 
readers might think an error of observation has been made, but this 
is in seeming only, for like many other species of lepidoptera the larva is 
an internal feeder only when small. Thus both statements are correct 
for it mines the tops of the stems whilst young, afterwards living 
within a compact web which envelops the whole of small flower shoots. 
I have seen the central blossom thus surrounded but only in small 
plants, when vigorous the side flowering stems will alone be attacked. 
It used to be common at Chattenden, and the perfect insects were 
larger from there than anywhere else I know of — Sydney Webb, Dover. 
Ma 7 'ch 22nd, 1891. 
Foodplants of Hom/eosoma nebulella and H. senecionis. — I 
bred a number of H. 7 iebulella from the dwarf thistle Cnicis acaulis from 
the dry pastures in Norfolk. Of senecio 7 iis, some years ago, I bred 
large quantities from larvae feeding in the top of ragwort under a web. 
The fat brown larva was at home among its frass. There is always 
plenty of breeze on the coast where I got them. I have two specimens 
without any markings whatever, the ground colour being as in the 
typical form. — J. B. Hodgkinson. March, 1891. 
Suggestions for a New Work on British Tortrices. — It may 
be treading on old ground to suggest the great want of a thoroughly 
practical work, with accurately coloured plates, on the British Tortrices, 
but I am induced to re-open the subject by personal need of it. 
Stainton’s standard book of reference exists, but it is not by any means 
up to date ; and there are other works, obsolete, untrustworthy, inaccurate, 
which I can only describe as “ brain-twisters ” to young or any aged 
students of this most interesting group. Doubtless the number of 
micro-lepidopterists in Great Britain is comparatively small, and only 
the valiant attack the Tineina, but would it not be a step in the right 
direction to contemplate — contemplation often precedes action — the 
advisability of a modern work on Tortrices. There must be a round 
