NOTES ON COLLECTING. 133 



who lives in the. neighbourhood, and who, when I tirst knew South 

 Devon, was a most zealous collector, and a keen observer, and also a 

 thoroughly good entomologist, especially with regard to local Noctuids; 

 and it seems strange that such a man should never have observed 

 ('. amhiijua before if the insect had been there. Taking all things 

 into consideration, I am inclined to come to the conclusion that the 

 species must have been there in very small numbers for some years, 

 and that now, from some cause or another, has rather rapidly 

 increased. My old friends, Tjrurania jnUirsrcns and Ai/rotin ohelUca, 

 both put in an appearance, but I am inclined to think that the former is 

 getting scarcer than it used to be in olden days ; the latter, how- 

 ever, was more abundant than I have known it before. Ileliuthin 

 peltii/i'ra and Leiicania albipuncta both turned up, but were scarce. My 

 best capture was Laphijfima exi(/ua. Comparing 189G with 1897, it 

 was interesting to note that although the latter was undoubtedly a 

 better year than the former in Devon, yet two species, viz., A;/r<)tU 

 I'.vdaniationis and Ili/drnecia nirtitcniti were scarcer in 1897, whilst they 

 were both very abundant in 189G, the aberrations of the latter being 

 very beautiful. Another thing worth noting, perhaps, is that Acontia 

 liictudsa was certainly a week earlier in 1897 than in 189G. — (Rev.) E. 

 C. DoHKEK Fox, M.A., Castle Moreton Vicarage, Tewkesbury. 



:^RACTICAL HINTS. 



Field Work for May and June. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



1. — In May the flowering stems of Cardatinne pratensis and Alliaria 

 officinalis should be collected for the orange-coloured eggs of Euchloi' 

 canlaiiiiiu's, which are usually laid (one on each flower-head) on the 

 pedicel of a flower nearly over. 



2. — The pupie of Sesia cijnipi form is shonld be searched for, in May, 

 in oak stumps that have been cut down two years previously. They 

 are to be found just beneath the bark. 



3. — "The larva} of Sctina irrorclla feed on a ground lichen, which 

 grows amongst the gi-ass, just outside the tide-mark. They after- 

 wards fed fairly well on the gray lichens, which are not uncommon on 

 apple and other trees " (Crewe). 



4. — In June the larva of Asphalia ridcns can best be obtained by 

 looking up into oak trees, when the larva} may be seen on the outside 

 branches, lying half-curled under two leaves drawn slightly together. 



5. — In the first week of June (or last in May), dusking over flowers 

 of Sih'nc, in the neighbourhood of Folkestone and Gosport, produces 

 Diantltoi'cia aUnmacula. 



6. — At the end of May, the larva} of l>i/sr/t()rista npsilon may bo 

 collected in dozens under the loose bark of willows, during the day ; 

 they only feed at night. 



7. — The larviT} of Xoctua ilitrapcium should be obtained about the 

 middle of May. They feed by night, and have been taken by searching 

 with a lantern in almost all the woods on the outskirts of London. 



8. — In late May and early .Tune, lli/ilrilla palustris comes to light 

 in Wicken Fen. It is g(.,'nc;rally supposed that that part of the Fen 

 nearest to the village is the most productive for this species. 



