228 NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
on the Chickweed ; others sunning themselves high up on the stems of the Sea
Blite (Suaeda), I was informed that it was equally abundant all along the Essex
coast. It is by no means usually a common insect, but I am told it occurred in
like numbers on our shores some years ago. From the larvae collected I have
since bred some remarkably fine specimens, including several variations from the
type form.—B. G. Cole, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
Catocala nupta with Black Underwings.—It will be remembered that
Dr. Laver recorded in The Essex Naturalist for 1888 (vol. ii., p. 255) the
capture of a specimen of the "Red Underwing Moth" with black Underwings at
West Bergholt. This form is very rare, but in "The Entomologist" for October
Mr. Sidney Cooper, of Hawkwood, Chingford, writes that on August 17th he
caught a similar specimen at Chingford ; and at a meeting of the City of London
Entomological Society on September 15th, Mr. J. H. Smart exhibited a fine
specimen of the aberration which he had bred from a larva taken amongst others
off Poplars, at the Crossness outfall, Belvedere, Kent, about the middle of last
June. The larva was fed on poplar, and the moth emerged on July 18th, Accord-
ing to Mr. Tutt this melanic form (known as "Aberration caerulescens") has
only been observed on one other occasion in addition to the above, viz., by Mr.
Winkley at Mitcham ("Brit. Noct.," vol. iv., p. 131).
Wasps Killing Flies.—In "The Irish Naturalist" for October (vol. v., p.
272), Mr. R. M. Barrington, of Bray,"records some observations on Wasps catching
the flies settled on cows, biting off the wings, and flying away with the bodies.
He estimated that in twenty minutes between 300 and 400 flies were caught on
two cows lying close to where he stood. Alluding to this observation, our Vice-
President, Prof. R. Meldola, writes as follows to "Nature" of Oct. 15th :
" I am glad you have again called attention to the useful part played by Wasps
in keeping flies in check. Many years ago, in an inn parlour on the Essex coast
[St. Osyth, August, 1880], I made a similar observation with Mr. W. Cole, who
was with me at the time. We found hundreds of wings scattered about the
window-ledge inside the room, and we were at first at a loss to explain the depre-
dation. While watching, the mystery was solved. The upper part of the window
had been left open a few inches, and a Wasp came through, caught a fly on the
glass pane, instantly clipped off its wings, and flew out of the open upper part of
the window with the body. Other Wasps followed and repeated the process. For
about an hour we observed the continuous arrival of Wasps, every one of which
secured a fly before departing."
Since the above mentioned occasion I have repeatedly observed this habit of
Wasps, and it was particularly noticeable during the summer of the great Wasp-
year, 1895. They would come into the rooms at meal-times and boldly take the
flies off the table-cloth and from the windows. On one occasion, while my brother
was setting out insects, a Wasp came in at the window, and nipped off the body of
a Geometer which had been braced down on a setting-board ! Mr. Fitch recently
informed me that he often observes Wasps engaged in shearing off the wings of
flies at Maldon. The habit of Wasps carrying off bits of flesh from butchers'
shambles is a matter of common observation. As "Nature" puts it "perhaps
these narratives of good deeds accomplished, will lead people to think more
leniently of the vices of the Wasp."—W. Cole, Buckhurst Hill, October, 1896.
Essex Plants.—The occurrence of the following plants in Essex may be
worth noting ; it is many years since they have been seen in this county :
Salvia pratensis, L. Found in a field at Fairstead, by Dr. Gimson. Valerianiela