THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 113 



I made another visit between the i8th of July and the 2nd of August, 

 to a locality 25 miles north of the city, but got nothing worthy of notice, 

 except, perhaps, a Catocala relicta, for its being somewhat early in the 

 season. In London during November Operophtera boreata was very 

 plentiful, yet I did not see a single specimen of an Anisopteryx. 



J. Alston Moffat. 



VANESSA CALIFORNICA IN VANCOUVER ISLAND. 



Noticing the remarks of Mr. W. G. Wright in the February number 

 of the Canadian Entomologist respecting V. Cali/ornica, I considered 

 it would be of interest to give particulars of its capture at Victoria, B. C. 

 During 1890 it was scarce in this vicinity, though probably common 

 enough on higher elevations. The specimens taken by me were cap- 

 tured at Beacon Hill, amongst or near the fir trees that compose the 

 wooded part of the Park, and situate some sixty feet above the sea level. 

 I secured my first as it was rapidly flying along a new made road, which 

 runs through the firs ; this was on September 9th. The next time I saw 

 it was September 21st, when I managed after a long run to net a worn- 

 out specimen. A whole month intervened before seeing it again, the 

 third one being captured October 26th. This was the last, and was taken 

 off a fir tree whilst sucking the sap, apparently too satiated with the juice 

 to heed danger, being easily taken, and transferred to my collecting box. 

 It was a good specimen as regards plumage, but ragged and torn, having 

 evidently been "on the road" a long time. Mr. James Fletcher, of 

 Ottawa, kindly named it for me, at same time mentioning that it was the 

 first recorded capture from Vancouver Island, if not in Canada. 



I doubt very much if those taken by me were bred here, but hold 

 more to the idea that they were visitors from foreign parts across the 

 Sound, or perhaps from the northern part of the island. Mr. W. G. 

 Wright says : — " It is of no value itself; it is usually present when you 

 don't want it, and its appearance seems to be the signal for more interest- 

 ing species to disappear." This without doubt is true as regards 

 California, its natural home ; but considering all things, I certainly believe 

 that its appearance on Vancouver Island is of value, even if it does 

 nothing more than add another species to the list of diurnals occurring 

 here, and I fondly hope to see it again this year. 



W. H. Danby. 



Victoria, B, C, Feb. 21st, 1891. 



