114 [May, 



other shrubs about. Peniatoma haccariim (2), and some common Phi/tocori and 

 Orthotyli. A shigle specimen of Issus coleoptratus was the only Ilomopterid 

 taken worthy of remark. 



LEPIDOPTERA. — Worn specimens of Argi/nnis Paphia were common, and 

 one var. Valezina was taken. Altogether 23 species of butterflies were seen on the 

 wing. Gonepteryx rhanmi was especially abundant, whilst a single worn specimen 

 of Limenitis Sibylla was taken. Epinephele J£geria was not common. In the 

 Heterocera a few good tilings turned up, though I did not pay much attention to 

 this Order. I found a fine, nearly full-fed, larva of Acronycta ahu, which a few 

 days afterwards disclosed a large grub, probably the larva of a Tachinid fly, un- 

 luckily it got too much, knocked about on the railway journey, and was dead, and 

 scarcely recognisable when I got home. A beautiful larva of Acronycta aceris was 

 also found. In the Vicarage garden I caught flying one evening a single specimen 

 of Aventiajlexiila. 



Perhaps the most amusing incident of my sojourn in the Forest 

 was the difficulty I found in obtaining specimens of the famous pest, 

 the Forest fly, Hippobosca equina ; I nearly returned home without 

 any, and only succeeded in getting two. 



South Leverton Yicarage, Lincoln : 

 February, 1899. 



BuUerJIies at Locarno, April 6th : a warm corner. — The entomologist is often 

 the sport of the -weather, especially if he hunts for butterflies. This is especially 

 enforced by the weather as I write (April 14th), the snow falling thickly and lying 

 on the ground, but not deeply. It has been very cold for a day or two ; it is perhaps 

 fair to say that such weather is almost unprecedented for Locarno so late in the 

 season. Preceding April 6th there had also been a very unusual weather phenome- 

 non, viz., drought for two months, usually with warmth, but with a cold snap quite 

 recently, both facts evidenced by camellias presenting a grand display of bloom, but 

 with not a few flowers injured by the cold. 



On the sands of the Maggia delta a Gelechiid was common ; though of a grey 

 colour, of similar tint to the sand, and without any apparent red tinting, it 

 could just be seen when resting on tiie bare sand as a slightly rusty looking spot. 

 At a height of 3500 feet above Locarno the snow was not only gone from south 

 slopes but Titanio Schrankiana was flying freely amongst scrubby heather when the 

 sun shone brightly. 



Butterflies generally were scarce, except a few P. Megara, L. sinapis, and a 

 sprinkling of other species ; but on April 6th I came across a small grass slope 

 dii'cctly facing the sun at about 3 p.m., of an area of perhaps one-tenth of an acre, 

 to call it one quarter of an acre would certainly be to exaggerate its size ; besides 

 its aspect, its great attraction was that it was being irrigated, the drought elsewhere 

 being in full force, grass still brown, and primroses that were flowering freely were 

 unable to grow any stalks to the blossoms. On this little spot during fifteen minutes 

 I verified the following 27 species of Ithupuloccra on the wing, viz., Papilio Poda- 



