Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/344

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1510
Insects.

ening the few remaining flowers of the jasmine and honeysuckle. The unprece- dented number, led some to suppose that they were visitors from the Continent, but the fine condition of some of those captured, precludes the possibility of travelling such a distance. It is also worthy of remark, that most of them were taken late in the eve- ning. — T. Brown; 15, Bridge Street, Caynbridge, September 21st, 1846.

Occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli near York.—Several specimens of the Convolvulus hawkmoth (Sphinx Convolvuli) have within the last three weeks, been seen and taken in and near York, they seemed to be partial to the flowers of Petunias, although a male in fine condition, I took on Saturday evening, was hovering over the flowers of the snap- dragon. — Robert Cook; Collier Gate, York, September 14th, 1846.

Occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli near Kingsbury, Middlesex. — Three specimens of Sphinx Convolvuli, two males and one female, have been captured here, and are now in my possession ; the first was taken on Sunday, August 9th, the second August 16th, by myself, and the last on August 20th ; they were all taken in a large conservatory belonging to my friend W. Greatorex, Esq. — Fred. Bond; Kingsbury, August 21st, 1846.

Capture of Sphinx Convolvuli near Winchester.—About a fortnight ago I had a fine specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli brought to me, which had been found in a garden in this city. — Henry Shepherd; North Walls, Winchester, September 8th, 1846.

Occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli in City Road, London. — A specimen of the above- named moth was captured in a yard in Old Street, City Road, by a woman, who brought it tome. — Thomas Hall; 7, City Road, August 24th, 1846.

Occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli near Tonbridge Wells. — Seven specimens of Sphinx Convolvuli have been captured in this neighbourhood within the last fortnight. — Walter R. Reeves; 14, Parade, Tonbridge Wells, September 14th, 1846.

On the occurrence of Sphinx Convolvuli at Sudbury. — On the 3rd instant I was in- formed by G.W. Fulcher, Esq., of Sudbury, that a large moth, which he mistook for the Privet Sphinx, had been rather plentiful in his garden during the last fortnight round the flowers of the linear-leaved evening primrose (Ænothera linearis), sometimes several appearing in the course of an evening, and in two instances he had seen two round the same plant at a time: thinking that Mr. Fulcher might be mistaken in the species, I obtained permission to visit his garden in the evening, and soon had the plea- sure of seeing a Sphinx Convolvuli hovering over a blossom of the Ænothera, but it escaped my over-anxious endeavours to take it. On the evening of the 4th, I saw another which also made its escape. On the 5th I captured three males, one of them very much shattered, but the others in fair condition. 6th, saw one in my own garden at Ballingdon, it approached the honeysuckle, but did not stay to feed. 7th, finding that Mr. Fulcher's plants had been removed, I obtained access to a garden at Balling- don, in which were several plants of the common evening primrose (Ænothera biennis), in full bloom, from which I took a specimen of the Sphinx, but a piece of the plant prevented my closing the net and allowed it to escape, this is the last I have seen. This Sphinx makes its appearance early in the evening, as soon as it begins to be twi- light, and retires before it gets dark ; it does not alight on the plant, its long trunk en- abling it to feed at the distance of three inches from the blossom, and when so engaged is easily approached, as Mr Fulcher informs me that he captured a fine pair with his hat on the 20th of August, which he presented to a lady of Sudbury ; one of which visited some honeysuckles which he held in his left hand, and allowed him to take it in his hat with the other ; he also took one on the 29th ult., which (not thinking