1 50 THE entomologist's kecord. 



also among the debris. The butterflies flit about undisturbed by the 

 turmoil, and among this squalor and filth, with a constant stream of 

 wounded on stretchers, donkeys' and men's backs, with mud above the 

 ankles, the painted ladies and green hairstreaks flutter about quite 

 unconcerned. Shells and bullets pass over in a continuous stream, 

 and with the echo from the hills make a perpetual din. And yet from 

 a copse close by, possibly concealing a sniper, wonder of wonders, 

 there is a nightingale in full song ! oblivious of the making of history, 

 and only impressing upon a casual listener that after all it is love that 

 rules the world." 



Notes on the Micro=lepidoptera of South=West London. 



By ALFRED SICH, F.E.S. 



It is difficult to find a suitable title to this paper, but the above has 

 Toeen chosen because most of the localities to be mentioned are situated 

 on the south-west side of London. The lanes and open spaces here 

 included have formed the chief hunting-grounds in which, for many 

 years past, I have endeavoured to become acquainted with those most 

 fascinating and somewhat cryptic beings, known as the Micro- 

 lepidoptera. 



The district covered by these observations is so well known, and so 

 much has been written concerning it, that it seems quite unnecessary 

 to preface these notes with any general remarks on its physical, 

 geological or even botanical peculiarities. The area in question is that 

 situated in the Thames valley between Charing Cross and Kingston- 

 on-Thames. It all lies within the ten-mile radius from Charing Cross. 

 The land north of the Thames belongs to the county of Middlesex, and 

 that south of the river to Surre}'. The whole district lies at a low 

 level and there is nowhere any chalk or limestone exposed on its 

 surface, so that the plants and the numerous attendant Lepidoptera, 

 which specially inhabit calcarious districts, are naturall}' absent. 

 Unfortunately, too, the woods have nearly all disappeared. 



The following are the localities which will be cited: Coombe Wood, 

 the only real wood in the district, still retained its sylvan features in 

 1909, and no doubt many species of Lepidoptera still occur there. 

 When in the heart of it, it is difficult to realise that the centre of the 

 great city is not ten miles distant. It is unfortunately not available 

 as a hunting-ground. 



Richmond Park with its ponds, oaks, thorns, birches and fine 

 stretches of turf, in which many wild flowers lie hidden, affords a home 

 to numerous species, and would doubtless contain more but for the 

 want of undergrowth. 



Sheen Conunon is better favoured with bushes, such as bramble 

 and gorse, but there is no broom. It contains some wild apple trees, 

 and in one damp spot Drnsera grew a year or two ago and may be 

 there still. Palewell, though very limited in extent, was perhaps, till 

 1913, the most primitive and undisturbed of the unenclosed spaces. 

 Barnes Common, Putney Heath and Wimbledon Common, Ham 

 Common and Kew are all well known. The chief attraction of the 

 first mentioned is afforded by the presence of broom and Uoaa spino- 

 ninsinia. All these localities are in Surrey. On the Middlesex side of 

 the river we have Chiswick, Brentford, Ealing, and Greenford. The 

 hunting-grounds in the first three of these- parishes are now confined 



