136 f'^""®' 



Purple Emperoi' in our list. For some most interesting notes on the subject I am 

 indebted to Mr. A. H. Foster, who saw, but having no net was unable to catch, a 

 specimen in 1899 or 1900, settled in the middle of the road wiiich leads by the side 

 of Hitch Wood towards Whitwell. Mr. Foster believes that A. iris is to be found 

 in Hitch Wood and also in Knebworth Great Wood. Mardley Heath Woods, and 

 Welwyn Tunnel Woods. The keepers both at Knebworth and Welwyn informed 

 him a few years ago that they not infrequently saw a beautiful purple butterfly 

 settling on dead birds, rats, &c., hanging in their ' larders.' I agree with Mr. 

 Foster that although this is only heai'say evidence it is very suggestive, and coupled 

 with the sight which he obtained of a specimen near the wood it appears conclusive. 

 Mr. Foster further informs me that the late Mr. Frank Latchmore used to tell how, 

 whilst driving by Hitch Wood, he saw a specimen settled in the road. He stopped 

 his horse and tried to catch it with his hat, but failed ; an experience very similar to 

 Mr. Foster's. Another of Stephens's early records which has received confirmation 

 is that of the occurrence of ±4.contia luctuosa. For this also wc are indebted to Mr. 

 Foster, who possesses two local specimens : one taken on Willbury Hill in 1902, 

 when he missed a second, and another captured in a clover field on the top of 

 Pcgsden Hills in 1903. Mr. Grellett also took a specimen last year near Hitchin." 

 A third of Stephens's insects which has again been met with is Myelophila cribrella, 

 which was taken at light at Cheshunt by Mr. W. C. Boyd. Allusion was then made 

 by the writer in the paper to the unfortunate meteorological conditions which pre- 

 vailed during 1903, and their prejudicial influence upon insect life. The bright 

 interval at the beginning of October was one of the redeeming features of a bad 

 year. At this time Nocfua; came freely to sugar, and during the day butterflies were 

 abundant. The great immigration of Vanessa cardui was alluded to, and the paper 

 was concluded by quotations from the reports of observers in various parts of the 

 county. A second short paper was then read by the same gentleman recording the 

 addition of thirteen new species to the list of Hertfordshire Coleoptera. In the first 

 Tolume of the " Victoria History of Hertfordshire," Mr. E. George Elliman, of 

 Chesham, had published a most valuable list of 1542 species taken in the county, 

 and he there expressed the belief that these figures represent very inadequately the 

 total number likely to be found, he having observed nearly a hundred additional 

 species in Buckinghamshire, within three or four miles of the Hertfordshire 

 boundary. The thirteen beetles which Mr. Elliman now added to the list brought 

 up the total to 1555. 



Meloe brevicoJlls, Panz,, in the Buxton district. — On Friday last, May 6th, I 

 took in Miller's Dale, five miles from here, five specimens of Meloe brevicollis. This 

 is the third year in succession in which this insect has occurred to me. The species 

 is extremely local, and is only to be found in a very limited area, say about 300 

 yards, on a grassy flat near the river. It is not gregarious like its allies, but is 

 found, so far as my experience goes, singly. On the same day, which was brilliantly 

 fine and hot, M . proscarabceus occurred in the utmost confusion ; some specimens 

 were seen feeding on the flower stalks of the lesser Celandine. The previous week I 

 found several examples of 3/. uio?ace?w in a sandy lane on Goyt Moor, 1100 feet 

 above sea level ; this I also took in the same place last year. — J. Kidson Taylob, 

 35, South Avenue, Buxton : Mai/ 9th, 1904. 



