been fortunate enough to rear the perfect insects, would, through the medium of this useful publication, insert a few hints respecting their management; being confident that they require some peculiar treatment. I received two larvæ last month, one of which has undergone the usual transformation in a flower-pot. I have had as many

as a dozen pupæ in the course of one season, but have never, in one instance, been fortunate enough to obtain the perfect insect.-G. Norman; Hull, Nov. 1, 1843.

Note on Brepha Notha and Parthenias. The specimen in the Linnean cabinet, with Linnè's label on the pin-" Parthenias," is the larger species with simple antennæ, or what in this country is usually called Notha, thus proving that the continental lepidopterists are correct. The species will stand thus: :- · BREPHA, Hub. 1. Parthenias, Linn. (Notha, Haworth &c.) 2. Notha, Hub. (Parthenias, Haw. Steph. &c.)- Henry Doubleday: Epping, November 29, 1843.

Note on Orthosia lunosa. Since I sent a few remarks respecting this species (Zool. 332), I have seen several specimens of the true Orthosia humilis of Hubner, and find it is a totally distinct species, with the under wings entirely fuscous, and nearly allied to O. pistacina. O. lunosa is identical with the H. subjecta of Duponchel, and O. agrotoides of Guenèe; but Haworth's name having the priority, must of course stand. It seems to be but little known upon the continent, and apparently rare. Mr. Westwood has referred it unhesitatingly to O. humilis, probably from the erroneous reference of Boisduval to Mr. Curtis's beautiful figure of it.—Id.

Note on Triphana subsequa. Mr. Bentley possesses two specimens of this species, one captured by himself in Hampshire, the other from Mr. Stone's cabinet, probably taken in the same county. The species is very likely to occur in the southern counties, as it is not uncommon in the northern parts of France. The insect figured and described by Mr. Curtis, is a totally distinct species, and I believe unique, though it is very possible that it may be common in some parts of Scotland. It does not seem to be known upon the continent.-Id.

Note on Triphana Curtisii. As we are indebted to Mr. Curtis for making known the unique moth to which my correspondent Mr. Doubleday refers, and as it appears at present to be without a name, I beg to suggest that it receive the name of Triphæna Curtisii; and I shall be happy to be allowed to give it that appellation. — Edward Newman.

Note on the effects of Rain on Pupa, and on recent captures near Manchester. I agree with the remarks of Mr. Douglas (Zool. 334), that a warm rain is favourable to the development of moths from the pupa state; but in my opinion its effects are far more visible in forcing the perfect insects from their concealment in the herbage, and thus compelling them to ascend for safety the trunks of trees &c., on which so many are afterwards to be found. However, my remark as to the weather, was in regard to myself, a cold March wind, with heavy rain, in Dunham-park, is anything but favorable to my development, whatever it may be to that of pupa. In 1841, with very dry weather, Hispidaria and Zonaria were very common. Emmelesia Blomeri, Xerene plumbata and albicillata, Nonagria pilicornis and Charæas fusca have been taken at Preston this season. At Blackpool I procured some beautiful specimens of Argynnis Charlotta, var.; and at Whitefield near here, a Lycæna Phlæas without orange margin in inferior wings, and one at Birmingham nearly black.-R. S. Edleston; Manchester, October 11, 1843.

Note on capturing Moths with Sugar. 'The Entomologist' and 'The Zoologist' have each contained several notices of captures of moths by means of sugar, but there

has been no account of the method of using it; and, from the communications of some of my correspondents, I am inclined to believe that it is not generally understood by country entomologists. A brief direction may therefore be of service, and be the means of making many captures during the next summer. The strongest brown sugar, known as "Jamaica foots," is mixed with hot water to the consistence of treacle, or somewhat thinner, and a small portion of rum added and stirred in; the composition is then laid on the trunks of trees in favourable situations with a painter's brush. I have found that it is better to make long and narrow streaks than broad patches. Many species do not like to wet their feet, and sit and sip the nectar modestly and at a distance, others are not so careful, but rush readily on their destruction. The sugar should be put on the trees at dusk, before the moths fly; for I have repeatedly observed, that if used afterwards, there will not be nearly so many come. With a lantern, suspended from the neck, and thereby preserving an upright position during every movement, the collector may visit the trees several times during an evening. The greater number of moths will be found during the first hour, but some species are only taken late at night. Most of them may be taken very easily by holding a pill-box under them, into which they will fall, and remain quiet till the next day, but some are not so quiet. Some persons boil the sugar and water, and think it an advantage, but I have not yet tried it. Of the efficacy of the addition of the rum I am sure, having more than once seen one collector use it, and another at the same time sugar without it, when the former would obtain double the number of Noctuæ.-J. W. Douglas; 6. Grenville Terrace, Cobourg Road, Kent Road, November 18, 1843.

Note on a few captures of Lepidopterous Insects. June 4. Abraxas ulmata, near Matlock in

Augt. Polyphasia populata, Inverness.

Melanippe albulata, Ulswater,

Cumberland.

ericetata, Derwentwater.

Nudaria mundana.

Sep. 26. Heliothis peltigera, on Braunton

burrows near Bideford, asleep

on the sand.

-Thomas Lighton; 4, Caledonia Place, Clifton, Bristol, October 24, 1843.

Notes on Captures in Suffolk. By W. GAZE, Esq.

ALTHOUGH We have left off chasing our nimble friends the butterflies, for this season, and the weather being rather unfavourable for searching for the autumnal moths round the blossoms of the reed and ivy; there is still left the pleasure of taking a retrospective ramble over those excursions in which we were the most successful, and of reading those of our brothers of the net. I therefore send you an account of my excursions to Assington-thickets during the past summer, hoping it will prove interesting to some of the readers of 'The Zoologist.'

Assington-woods are situate about three miles east of Sudbury, and contain about five hundred acres. They are principally composed of oaks, with a thick underwood of hazel, willow, ash, berry-bearing alder &c., and in one part completely carpeted with that beautiful fern, Blechnum boreale; but the chief attractions to the entomologist are the thickets or broom-fields, these are pieces of about two acres each, surrounded by the high road, and are composed of long grass, heath, furze and broom, with here and there a stunted oak, birch, aspen and willow. My first excursion was made on the 23rd of May, accompanied by a guide. It was a most beuutiful morning: Gonepteryx Rhamni, Mancipium Cardamines, Melitæa Euphrosyne, Hipparchia Ægeria, Megara and Pamphilus were very abundant: took one specimen of Thecla Rubi and several of Thymele Alveolus and Tages, Chesias obliquaria two, IIercyna maculata one, Acidalia floslactata three, Pyrausta purpuralis one, P. sordidalis several. A larva of Gastropacha quercifolia from the willow, one specimen of Leptura ruficornis, one of Dorytomus Tortrix, and Chrysomela litura in plenty. I was told adders abounded, and killed two with the handle of my net. My second visit took place on the 5th of June. I entered the thickets about 11 A.M., and captured three specimens of Thecla Rubi, two of Dasychira pudibunda, one of Lithosia Aureola, Phasiane plumbaria in abundance, one of Minoa euphorbiata, several of Hercyna maculata, three of Margaritia fuscalis, a larva of Dasychira fascelina from the broom; Rhynchites Populi, one specimen, Saperda populnea twenty from the aspen, Leptura melanura and ruficornis, one of each, and three of Chrysomela rufipes. The Coleoptera were all inadvertently put together into a tin canister; when this was opened, on my return home, every specimen of Saperda populnea was completely spoiled, and most of the others injured; to get a fresh supply I made my third visit on the 23rd of June, but could only find two specimens of S. populnca, and none of the other Coleoptera. Melitæa Selene was rather plentiful and in fine condition. I took two specimens of Nemeophila Plantaginis, and saw two of Xerene hastata, which escaped.

My fourth visit was made on the 15th of July, in search of Argynnis Paphia, which some years (I was informed) was very abundant, but could see only one specimen. Hipparchia Hyperanthus, Pamphila linea and Sylvanus were abundant. I took several of Anthrocera Filipendulæ, Angerona prunaria one, Hipparchus papilionarius one, Chesias obliquaria one: saw larvæ of Gonepteryx Rhamni feeding on Rhamnus Frangula, and brushed three of Thecla Rubi from

the broom: also took three specimens of Strangalia elongata and four larvæ, which produced Chilocorus renipustulatus, from the sallow.

My fifth and last visit was made on the 28th of July, in the hope of seeing Apatura Iris, which has several times been taken there, but was disappointed; and with the exception of one specimen of Oiceoptoma thoracica from under a dead mole, I only met with the commonest species.

In this visit I was accompanied by a friend, who, contrary to my advice, persisted in taking a favourite little spaniel with him, and just as we had tired ourselves, and were thinking of leaving the thickets, I saw two very large adders curled up near a furze-bush, one of which I killed, and was putting a string round its neck to take it home for preservation, when I heard the dog (which had rambled to the other side of the bush) give a shriek, which was followed by a tremendous hissing. I instantly snatched up my net and ran to the spot, where lay three more adders curled up, and the one which had bitten the dog hissing at the edge of the bush, with its head raised about three inches from the ground, apparently watching for another bite, and not making the least attempt to escape: with four well-directed strokes, the work of a moment, they were all killed, together with another that lay about two yards off; they all proved to be females, with from twelve to sixteen young ones in each, some of which were found to measure six inches long. The dog was obliged to be carried home, where it was dressed by a veterinary surgeon, but died in a few hours. Thus ended my excursions to this locality, the best for entomological productions I have yet visited, as besides my captures, I am informed Nemeobius Lucina, Argynnis Lathonia, Thecla Betulæ and Lasiocampa Rubi have been taken there: and although we parted on unfriendly terms on account of the adders, I intend, life and health permitting, to visit it again next season. W. GAZE.

Ballingdon, November 18, 1843.

66

Note on the appearance of Tipulidæ in winter. During the severe winter of 1829 -30, in the month of January, when the mean temperature of the twenty-four hours was varying from 28° to 331°, and in two instances descended as low as 25° and 16o respectively, a brood of tipulidous insects (Trichocera hiemalis, Meig.) suddenly made their appearance at Swaffham Bulbeck, and were noticed in considerable numbers, settling upon the walls of different outbuildings, as if they had just emerged from the pupa state.”—Note to the Rev. L. Jenyns' edition of White's Selborne, p. 372.

Notes on the Habits of Osmia atricapilla.

WATERHOUSE, Esq.

By GEORGE R.

I MET with Osmia atricapilla for the first time at Darenth wood, about two or three years back, and then only with one specimen, which was a female. In the beginning of June, 1835, however, 1 found it in tolerable abundance, flying about a high bank by the riverside, near Liverpool: at this time none but females were to be seen, though I hunted diligently for the other sex. Having secured specimens for my cabinet, I then endeavoured to trace others to their nests in order both to ascertain their habits, and to discover the male, that sex being unknown to me.

It was not long before I observed a female dart into a tuft of dry grass near me; and upon separating this tuft very carefully, to my great delight, I discovered her in the act of constructing a cell. On being thus exposed she discontinued her work, but soon resumed it again upon my keeping myself perfectly quiet.

The situation in which this cell was placed, as well as several other cells which I afterwards found, was in a projecting part of the nearly perpendicular bank, where the soil was of a light nature. Most of the cells were deposited at the roots of dry grass, the lower part of each cell being generally inserted in the soil, and the upper part exposed. In a perfect nest the cells were never detached, but always two or three, and sometimes five or six, were joined side by side. In some instances I have found the cells about an inch under ground, in a little chamber, which had apparently been excavated for their reception; the entrance to this chamber was only sufficiently large to allow free access to the bee.

The cells are constructed of mud; the outer surface is irregular, the inner perfectly smooth, reminding one of a swallow's nest. Each cell is about five lines in length, and nearly egg-shaped; there is, however, a slight approach to the cylindrical form towards the upper end, which is truncated, and is closed by a lid, the upper surface of which is concave.

I frequently observed the female Osmia laden with little pellets of mud used in the construction of the cells; but as these pellets were always dropped upon my capturing the insect, I could not ascertain how they were carried; they appeared however to be held under the thorax by means of the two anterior pairs of legs.

In the newly-formed cells, which could be distinguished by the up