NOTES ON THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SEASON OF 1873. 



HE seasun of 1873 

 has been declared 

 M-^ to have been one 

 -^^ of the worst for 

 many years, owing, 

 probably, to the 

 fact that the heavy 

 rains in the pre- 

 ceding autumn de- 

 stroyed multitudes 

 of pupa;, and late frosts in the 

 spring as many larvae. But 

 even in this season, which 

 has earned for itself such a 

 bad name, there are several 

 records of the capture of 

 very rare insects, and other no- 

 tices of insects less rare having 

 been taken in localities where 

 they had not previously been 

 known to occur ; such, for 

 instance, as northern insects 

 having extended their south- 

 ward range, and other cases 

 which will presently be 

 mentioned. 



First and foremost amongst the captures recorded 

 in this journal, and in the Entomologist, we find 

 twenty-five notices of the occurrence of V. Antiopa 

 (Camberwell Beauty), distributed over several of 

 our English counties, and including two captures 

 in Scotland. 



In point of numbers the neighbourhood of London 

 stands highest, recording four specimens ; viz., 

 one at Hampstead, one at Stamford-hill, one at 

 Clapham, and one in London itself, at Einsbury. 



The northern counties furnish us with five cap- 

 tures : one in Cumberland, one in Lincolnshire, one 

 in Yorkshire, and two in Lancashire. In the eastern 

 counties we have four specimens recorded; viz., 

 Norfolk one, Suffolk one, and Essex two; while 

 ten are reported (exclusive of the four captures 

 near London) from the southern and midland 

 counties ; viz., Berks two, Worcestershire one, 

 Surrey three, Sussex two, and Kent two. 

 No. 109. 



The Scotch specimens were taken in Aberdeen- 

 shire, on the banks of the Dee. 



As was also the case in 1S72, there are no records 

 of any captures of V. Antiopa in Ireland during the 

 past season. Besides the number of recorded cap- 

 tures, it is probable that some have been taken of 

 which no notice has been sent to the entomological 

 magazines, so that I think we may conclude that 

 at least thirty have been seen and captured last 

 year, several of which were hybernated specimens 

 of the previous season. 



This number is considerably less than the "take" 

 of 1S72 ; but the disparity is probably owing to the 

 fact that almost all the individuals seen in that year 

 were netted, so that few were left to perpetuate the 

 species. 



The only other very rare butterflies caught in 

 1873, whose capture is recorded, are one specimen 

 A. niobe (by some regarded as a variety of adippe), 

 and one.3f. dia, &n insect so rare that hitherto it 

 has only obtained a place in our list of "reputed " 

 British species. 



Turning to the Nodurni, we find recorded two 

 captures of that very rare sphinx C. celerio, one at 

 Southport and the other at Boll on. 



H. velleda (Northern Swift) has been extending 

 its southward range ; it has been reported from the 

 Quantock Hills, Somerset, from Folkestone, and 1 

 have heard of its capture in Norfolk. 



Amongst the Noduce there are several rarities 

 that have been taken during the past season, of 

 which the following may be noticed. 



F. leucophaa — several specimens captured near 

 Canterbury. 



X. conspidllaris, of which one specimen was 

 taken at Danbury. 



L. albipunda — iviQ captured at Folkestone, 

 where it has previously been taken. 



P.alpina—dL pupa found by Mr. Allinnear Braemar, 

 at a great elevation, produced this rare species. 



C. gnaphalii, both in the larva and imago state, 

 has again been taken at Darenth Wood. 



C. absynthii—Que capture is recorded from Ire- 

 land, where it had previously been unknown; the 

 larvae have also been taken near Sevenoaks. 



