has obtained it at Chesham, attracted by a strong light
Pterostoma palpina, Linn. Chalfont St. Peter, Buckingham, Halton, Chesham ; about poplars
Ptilophora plumigera, Esp. Halton, Great Marlow. This is another most interesting species which has its chief home in this and the bordering counties. It is scarcely ever taken in the moth state. The Rev. B. Smith used to examine the twigs of maple bushes in the winter and so find the eggs, which were deposited singly on the buds. These hatched in April, and the larvæ fed on the young leaves of the maple. Considerable numbers were reared in this manner or from larvae found on the undersides of the maple leaves. From the resulting moths eggs were obtained and sufficient specimens reared to supply most collections. A former resident at Marlow, Mr. C. T. G. Trotter, has furnished information as to the method of rearing. He says, 'A small maple planted in a pot and slightly forced about the 1st of April, may be brought indoors. The young larvae, which appear about the 20th of April, are placed on the opening buds with a feather ; these will not wander off their food, but go on feeding and changing their skins for about six weeks when they will be full grown and ready to bury. The plant will want watering occasionally, but no further trouble need be taken. They bury from one to two inches below the surface, and should be kept dry till November.' The Rev. B. Smith says that the larva will feed freely on sycamore and Norway maple as well as on Acer campestris (common maple). The moth has the strange habit of emerging in the middle of November ; and has been taken at gas lamps occasionally
Gluphisia crenata, Esp. This is one of the most rare of British insects. Three specimens only are known with certainty to have been obtained in these islands, and of these one was reared from a larva obtained in Buckinghamshire. The history of this specimen by the Rev. Joseph Greene is as follows: 'In August, 1853, returning home from a collecting expedition, about midway between Weston Turville and Halton I came across a large black poplar. Striking a branch which was within reach of my beating stick, I saw something fall into the grass, and after a careful search discovered a small dull green caterpillar, tapering at each end, and having three or four brick-red dorsal patches, but quite unknown to me. This I placed in a breeding cage, and it went down that day. I left Halton for Dublin the same season, but before doing so I went to London to see whether I could obtain any information as to this larva at the Entomological Society. I found there, I think, Mr. Douglas and Mr. Janson ; they showed me Hubner's great work, and when we came to the figure of G. crenata I at once recognized it. I left two sceptics behind me and returned home. I then went to Dublin, carrying with me, of course, my breeding cage containing such precious pupae as S. fagi, L. cucullina, and the hoped-for crenata. The house in which I passed the winter had a greenhouse attached. All three species emerged at the end of the ensuing March, having been forced by the warmth ; they are all still in my collection, and I know of no capture of crenata since.' Mr. Greene has furnished these details for the present work ; he is now living well stricken in years at Clifton, Bristol, and still deeply interested in the entomology of this county. The specimen in question was exhibited at a meeting of the Entomological Society of London on 3 April, 1854
Petasia cassinea, Schiff. ; sphinx, St.C. (the Sprawler). Black Park, Halton, Chesham
Pygaera bucephala, Linn, (the Buff-tip). Generally distributed and common
Clostera curtula, Linn. (Chocolate-tip). Halton, scarce
reclusa, Fab. ; pigra, St.C. (Small Chocolate-tip). Halton, Black Park ; about sallows
Diloba casruleocephala, Linn. (Figure of 8). Generally distributed and common
Gonophora derasa, Linn. (Buff-arches). Buckingham, Chesham, Chalfont St. Peter, Black Park, Whittlebury Forest ; usually taken at ' sugar '
Thyatira batis, Linn. (Peach Blossom Moth). Halton, Chesham, Chalfont St. Peter, Black Park, Marlow ; also usually taken at ' sugar '
Cymatophora duplaris, Linn. Halton, Chesham ; not common
or, Schiff. Halton, larvæ on young shoots of poplar
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