NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 
113 
lates freely in confinement. Normally, this takes place, as Dr. Buckell 
records [ante p. 96), the night following emergence, on the first flight of 
the (^, but I believe that if both sexes emerge simultaneously on the 
same tree, they pair as soon as the wings are dry; this is almost 
certainly the case in captivity, and I have taken very fresh specimens 
hi cop. about 4 or 5 p.m. on trees where I had not noticed them on 
the morning of the same day. The variation is very great. I notice 
in my series two $ ’s having the ochreous ground colour most mixed 
with white scales. One has the additional peculiarity of a large 
elongate black spot (often present, but generally inconspicuous because 
placed on or adjoining the black costal line) midway between central 
line and outer dark band. The $ ’s are generally thinly scaled, so 
that even bred specimens look worn ; but occasionally one meets with 
a specimen nearly as thickly clothed as the and of similar ochreous 
colouring. The 2 is very sluggish, seldom if ever using her wings. 
I noticed two on one tree trunk almost in the same spot for a fortnight 
and at last killed and set them, and they are in perfect cabinet con- 
dition.^ With regard to geographical range I can say nothing, never 
having seen it out of London. I have been told that it is taken at 
Shanklin, but on the authority of an informant not well up in 
Geometrae. — Louis B. Prout, 12, Greenwood Road, Dalston, N.R. 
J^une 1891 . 
From the Record., p. 96, it appears that this insect is somewhat 
common, if not indigenous, to London. I have ever found it plentiful 
in my suburban garden. After a heavy shower, the larvae congregate upon 
the trunks, under the projecting branches, upon which they subsequently 
distribute during the night to feed. I shall be happy to send living 
larvae, if this summer it is as plentiful as of yore with me, to any 
entomologist who may send their boxes. — H. E. Barren, 23, Bouverie 
Street, E.C. 
Cannibalism of Cosmia affinis Larv^. — On June 12th, I beat 
some forty larvae of C. affinis., and about ten C. diffinis from elm trees 
some three miies from here, and although they all travelled home to- 
gether, I detected no signs of cannibalism. To-day I visited the same 
locality and beat thirty-two C. affinis, one C. diffinis, and one very 
large full-fed Himera pennaria. On reaching home I found the latter 
half-devoured by a C. affinis larva, which was very loth to leave its 
wretched victim. I also noticed an affinis feeding (in my umbrella) 
on a larva of Anisopteryx cescularia. Therefore, it seems probable 
that C. affinis is only a cannibal with regard to larvae of species other 
than its own. — G. H. Raynor, Victoria House, Brentwood. Jime 
20th, 1891. 
Meteorological Influences and Sugaring.— I think my experience 
is almost identical with that of Mr. Robinson {ante p. 88). In the north, 
we do not dread the moon so much as frost and mist. Mist sometimes 
is not so bad when collecting Noctuae, but with the little things one can 
do nothing. — W. Reid, Pitcaple. May, 1891. 
My experience of moonshine also agrees with Mr. Robinson’s. At 
Portland there are no trees, and thistle-heads, bramble twigs, and 
^ As the ? often fails to develop its wings, and makes so little use of them when 
developed, may it not be that in course of time it will become apterous as in so 
many early spring Geometers, including the allied Nyssia hispidaria and Phigalia 
pilosaiia. I believe nature refuses to develop organs for which there is no use. 
