78 THE entomologist's recokd. 



one was not altogether surprised to find Dryas paphia and Argynnis 

 adippe getting somewhat passe, whilst an overhead stroke at a specimen 

 not clearly determined as it flew swiftly past, settled the insect for a 

 newly-emerged Euynnia polycJdoros. On the thistle-flowers were some 

 freshly-emerged Anthrocera trifolii and A. filipeudulae, the former 

 wanderers from the adjacent bog, and Gonepteryx rhanmi occurred 

 frequently, though in nothing like the abundance of the preceding 

 year. Over the bushes a fresh brood of Celastrina argiolua 

 was on the wing, only 3 s, however, were netted, and there was a 

 suspicion that these were rather obsoletely spotted on the underside of 

 the forewings. Turning into a piece of bog enclosed in the wood, the 

 first somewhat unexpected capture was CalUnwrpha dominula, several 

 of which were observed on the thistle-flowers. A few eggs were 

 obtained, the larvfe of which have fed steadily ahead, chiefly on roses,, 

 and not one of which died until a few days since (February 20th, 1910), 

 when the more forward ones moulted apparently into their last skin, 

 and a serious mortality set in. A number of Bntys hyalinalis were 

 disturbed from among the undergrowth, whilst just at the entrance a 

 small bright form of Coenonyiuplia arcania, in fine condition, was not 

 uncommon, yet so localised, that all the specimens observed must 

 have been within an area of about 20 yards square ; Melanaryia 

 yalatea, too, was common on the edge of the bog, whilst Melitaea 

 dictynna was frequent, and some examples still in really good trim. 

 Occasionally a swifter-flying Anthrocerid crossed one's path, and one 

 knew at once, now that one was alive to it, that it was Anthrocera 

 viciae [meliloti). The habits of this species are quite different from 

 those of A. trifolii. It is altogether more alert and more active than 

 its congener, and, even when resting on its favourite flowers, is not by 

 any means to be picked ofl' with the fingers as is the case with most 

 species of the genus; it flies most freely in the early afternoon but 

 the net may be wanted for its capture at all times of the day. Soon the 

 first Coenonympha tiphon appeared, although the species Avas by no means 

 common here, and the chance disturbance of a To.vocanipa pastinioit 

 soon prompted us to a hunt sufficiently successful to show the species 

 was common, whilst a similar chance capture of Hydrelia mica also led 

 to further investigation, and one was interested in finding these two 

 species together as in our homeland fen at Chippenham. A few 

 Coenonympha pamphilus were noted and a few large and rather worn 

 Cyaniris semiarym, and then a start was made for the larger bog. Walk- 

 ing through the open wood, it was noticed that a single Thymdicus acteon 

 alone represented the dozens of the previous season, whilst Acidalia 

 ochrata was an unexpected addition to the fauna. An occasional 

 example of Adscita statices occurred as in the preceding year, altogether 

 four were noted, all <? s, and three in good condition. A single 3 

 Agriades coridon was in the nature of a surprise, it was the only 

 specimen seen on either visit. 



Reaching the larger bog, Coeyionytnpha tiphon was found at least 

 as abundant as the preceding year and in about the same condition, so 

 that the unsatisfactory weather of the spring or early summer had 

 afi"ected this less than the other species already noted. A beautiful 

 series was captured exhibiting a very wide range of variation both on 

 the upper- and underside, yet all within the limits of the British 

 " middle" form, the finest example being one in which the pale stripe 



