186 [August, 



gi'acliially assuming its full colour, and it was quite mature before its final 

 emergence on May 22nd. Being at Thame Park again on May 28th, I found 

 another example, this time a pupa, which burst the envelope on June 8th, 

 emerging fully mature on June loth. The first specimen bred proves to be a 

 male, whilst the later one is a female. — H. Bkitten, Myrtle View, Headington, 

 Oxon : July I7th, 1916. 



Ischnomera sanguinicollis F., in Oxfordshire. — I took a female example of 

 this somewhat rare sjiecies sitting on a nettle leaf at Thame Park, Oxon, on 

 May 28th last. — H. Britten. 



Deleaster dichrous GraiK, in Roxburghshire. — I think it may be worth while 

 recording the captiire of Deteaster dichrous here about the end of May. I was 

 going down to the barracks near the Eiver Slitrig when I noticed a beetle fl.ying, 

 and on knocking it down with my hand found it to be this rather uncommon 

 species. — James E. Black, Lieiit., Stobs Castle, Hawick : July 12th, 1916. 



Notorhilus limhatus Fich., in the New Forest. — On May 21st, 1915, I i'otmd 

 a single example of this distinct and apparently very rare little bug in wet 

 Sphatjyuim near Ehinefield Enclosure, but failed to meet with it again in a recent 

 visit to the same spot. In the Oxford University Museiim there is also a 

 somewhat broken specimen of this insect from the New Forest, which was taken 

 by Mr. Donisthorpe on May 12th, 1914, with Tachys walkerianus and other 

 (Sp/iajHum-frequenting species. -James J. Walker, Oxford: July 7th, 1916. 



A plague of Caterpillars. — The greater or less denudation of the foliage 

 of oaks has been a good deal remarked, and is noticed in the Ent. Mo. Mag. 

 How the seasons affect Tortrix viridana I have no suggestions to make, but 

 there can be little doubt that the mild winter of 1915-16 must have greatly 

 favoured the winter moths, Cheimatobia, Hibernia, etc. As a reverse to this, I 

 have not come across a single brood of Vanessa, urticae so far ; it would be intei'est- 

 ing to know whether this scarcity is local or general. I attribiite it also to the 

 mildness of the winter. I saw a V. urticae on the wing at an unseasonably 

 early date, which I did not record, and suppose that many individuals of the 

 species were tempted out of hibernation only to perish, suffering not from the 

 severity, but the mildness, or ratlier the variability, of ovu- climate. I explain 

 the absence of V. antiopa from us by its always perishing when it attempts to 

 settle here, by our winters not being severe enough to keep it in effective 

 hibernation. I do not know that I can connect with the mild winter the 

 disappearance of a common Nematus that was abvmdant on a sallow tree 

 here last year and for several preceding years, or of Phymatocera aterrima, 

 which is not absent, biit very scarce this year, having been common for two 

 years. It is also a very unusual circumstance that there is not a trace of 

 Nematus ribesii in my garden. These common variations in the abuiidance of 

 species unquestionably have causes, but we are rarely able to surmise a 

 satisfying explanation. — T. A. Chapman, Betula, Beigate .- July 1st, 1916. 



