Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/272

1438 a bottle containing bruised laurel-leaves, or rather the young succulent shoots. — William Clear; Cork, May 5th, 1846.

Treatment of Insects when captured. — I have noticed in the 'Zoologist' (Zool. 1334) an article on the treatment of insects when captured, it there recommends the use of a tin box with a sort of false bottom, the inner one to be perforated with holes, and some salts or ammonia placed between the two bottoms for killing the insects of the order Lepidoptera. I have tried it for a considerable time, and in most cases found the insect beat about a great deal too much, and likewise especially with the larger ones, they are very apt to recover. I have found that shutting them up in an air- tight brass box and putting the whole in boiling water is a very good plan. I have also, when the larger moths are stupified with ammonia transfixed them with a pin, and then running the pin through a rather large card, placed the point of the pin in a candle. In half or even a quarter of a minute, they are perfectly dead, without a struggle. I should feel obliged, if you think these observations worthy of a place in your next number, by your placing them there. I have had great plea- sure in perusing the numbers of the ' Zoologist ' ever since they came out first. I should be also glad if some more learned person than myself would inform me how effectually to destroy or keep out the mites from cabinets. I think I have tried al- most everything that is possible to be done, and yet after a short time they will appear again. — W. Sheppard; Frome, May 5th, 1846.

— Many of our summer birds leave us this month. The swifts usually de- part in the first week, although a few stragglers may occasionally be seen till the end of the month. The warblers disappear gradually, as they have completed the au- tumnal moult. The young birds usually remain longer than the old ones, and the willow wrens and blackcaps may often be heard singing in low tones on warm days. Some of the waders, mostly young birds of the year, apparently on the way to more southern climates appear on our coast. The sanderling and turnstone are common, and the two little sandpipers {Tringa minuta and T. Temminckii) are occasionally met with. Grouse shooting begins on the 12th, and black game on the 20th.

Insects. — The red admiral butterfly (Vanessa Atalanta) is now very common, and may often be seen sucking the juice of plums and other kinds of fruit. About the 12th Colias Hyale appears ; in some seasons in abundance, in others scarcely to be met with. The beautiful Colias Edusa appears rather late in the month, and continues through September. The convolvulus hawk moth (Sphinx Convolvuli) may occasion- ally be found resting upon gate-posts, palings, &c., or flying in the evening over flow- ers in gardens, particularly Petunias. The autumnal " thorn moths" (Geometra Tilia- ria,angularia,Sinderosaria) ; the red underwing moth (Catocalanupta), the rare Cato- cala Fraxini, Graphiphnra rhomboidea, Agrotis puia, suffusa, and many other Noctuce appear in this month. Most of the caterpillars of the Sphingidce, or hawk moths, are now full grown, and preparing to assume the pupa state ; those of Sphinx Ligustri will be found on the privet, ash, guelder rose, &c. ; and those of Deilephila Porcellus feed upon the yellow ladies' bedstraw (Galium verum), in dry places, while the larvae of D. Elpenor are found in marshes, on the buckbean and other plants, and sometimes in gardens, upon the various Fuchsias, apparently preferring the flowers. They vary exceedingly in colour. — Henry Doubleday ; Naturalist's Almanack for 1845.