Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/203

Rh believe the occurrence to be of some rarity in the annals of Entomology. On opening my breeding-case on the morning of the 3rd of April, I found that a number of Lepidoptera had come out during the previous night, amongst which were three specimens of Sphinx ocellata, five of S. Populi, one S. Tiliae, one S. Ligustri, and two of Cerura Vinula. But what surprised me was to find a male of S. Populi and a female of S. ocellatus united in copula. I left them all the night, and on the following morning the female had laid a number of eggs, which I am preserving, and hope to rear some hybrids, which will be somewhat of rarities. Perhaps some of your contributors may have witnessed a similar occurrence, where hybrids have been produced by two different insects, and will favour me with the particulars through the medium of 'The Zoologist.' The larvae of S. Tiliae and S. Ligustri I received last autumn from Hamburgh, not being found in this neighbourhood that I am aware of. The pupae have been kept throughout the winter in a vinery.—G. Norman; Hull, April 7, 1843.

Note on Sphinx Ligustri and Smerinthus ocellatus. On opening one of the cages this morning, to my astonishment I found a male Sphinx Ligustri in copuld with a female Smerinthus ocellatus: and what renders this still more singular, is, that there were several individuals of both sexes of the two species at the same time in the cage.—Henry Doubleday, in 'The Entomologist,' p. 357.

''Note on the production of hybrids between Smerinthus Populi and Sm. ocellatus. On the 6th of November, 1837, a paper by Henry House, Esq., was read before the Entomological Society of London, on the production of hybrid specimens between Smerinthus Populi and Sm, ocellatus: the specimens were exhibited.—Ed.''

Note on the cure of "Grease" in Insects. If the following method of destroying the "grease" in insects would prove acceptable to the readers of The Zoologist,' perhaps you will be kind enough to insert it. Moisten the part greased with pure naphtha, then cover it with scraped pipe-clay; let this remain on for a few hours, afterwards brush it off with a soft camels' hair brush. Some of the large-bodied moths require to be done two or three times before all the grease is destroyed. I have used the naphtha and pipe-clay with great success in restoring the beauty of Coleoptera brought home in spirit, particularly those brought by Mr. Cuming.—F. Bond; Kingsbury, April 10, 1843.

Note on the Capture of Colias Philodice. In your remarks on Colias Hyale (Entomol. 386), you speak of Mr. Ardley's being convinced t 1 at he had seen C. Philodice; something more than this occurred in this neighbourhood, a specimen having actually been captured at Collyhurst, after a desperate chase of two hours, the pursuing parties having no other implements than their hats, and the locality being a very awkward one.—R.S. Edleston, in 'Entomologist, '  p. 417.

Note on Colias Philodice. In the last No. of 'The Entomologist,' (p. 417) was a notice of this insect. Although the circumstance of its capture eight years ago was known to most of the old entomologists here, on one of whom I thought I could depend for correctness as to the name of the species, I had no opportunity of seeing it myself until the end of last week, when I found out the residence of one of the captors, who showed me the specimen, and to my great surprise and disappointment, I found the insect was Colias Edusa and not Philodice. How parties who had ever seen the two insects could possibly confound them, I am at a loss to discover. I beg your insertion of this notice in the next * Zoologist,' that the error may be rectified as soon as possible, and I greatly regret it should have occurred.—R.S. Edleston; Manchester, April 10, 1843.

Note on the capture of Nyssia hispidaria, N. zonaria, &c. On the 12th of March I went to Dunham park, in the expectation of meeting with the former insect at their