rience of being assisted in the capture of Cicadidæ by discovering their position through their tell-tale stridulation is apparent by a narrative of the late Mr. Jenner Weir, who, exhibiting a specimen of Cicadetta montana at a meeting of the Entomological Society of London, is reported to have said, 'he was attracted to the spot where the insect was concealed by hearing it stridulate" (Proc. Ent. Soc. July 4th, 1877). At a subsequent meeting (Aug. 1st, 1877), Mr. Weir stated that Mr. J. Gulliver had also taken the species, and that that collector was also "guided by the sound so made in effecting the capture."—Ed.
Strange Pairing of Butterflies.—Whilst shooting on the western borders of the Bog of Allen, in Kildare, Ireland, during the latter part of the month of August in this present year, I noticed a male Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly and a female Large Meadow Brown, interbreeding. Is this a circumstance of any rarity? I almost think it must be, for in the course of a long country experience nothing of the sort has come under my notice.—A. Marmaduke Langdale (Thorneycroft, Compton, Petersfield).
[The two butterflies being not even generically allied, but belonging to different subfamilies, this strange union, of which we have received definite particulars, would certainly be infertile in result.—Ed.]
PRESERVATION OF ZOOLOGICAL SPECIMENS.
Dermestes lardarius eating Specimens of Moths.—In reply to Mr. Dallas's query about getting rid of Dermestes in insects (p. 433), the large moths are all the better for having their insides removed at the first, and. treated with a weak solution of corrosive sublimate, or at least of benzoline. With old specimens, benzoline applied very lightly is most useful, but occasionally the mischief has extended to the wings, and the scales float off, leaving a black mass. In the case of heads, a solution of corrosive sublimate of such a strength as not to leave a white deposit on dark hair should be liberally applied, and when dry the hair should be brushed and combed, and wiped over with benzoline. Even when there are no Dermestes, it is a capital plan to saturate all heads once or twice a year with benzoline. For skins, &c, that are put away powdered naphthaline is excellent.—Oxley Grabham (Chestnut House, Heworth, York).
