1900] 279 



now very generally distributed over the whole of the first section of 

 the Fens. 



Having for many years spent a part of the summer at Irstead 

 Shoals, I have frequently worked the Bartow Fens (the second section 

 mentioned), taking very much the same species as at lianworth, though 

 with some differences— e. y., N. canncs, which seems very rare in the 

 Bure fens, occurs regularly, though sparingly, at Barton. I think it 

 was in 1890 (but cannot find any record of the date) that I was 

 startled by the capture of four or five iV. breviUnm, on the very spot 

 which for years past I had regularly worked for cannce without pre- 

 viously seeing the other species. Since then N. brevilinea has occurred 

 there regularly every season that I have been able to work the place 

 in August. 



TheHickling Fens are more difficult of access from Norwich, and 

 it is only at long intervals that I have been able to collect there, so 

 that I have no right to assume that N. brevilinea has not been a 

 regular inhabitant of the district all along. It is, however, a little 

 strange that in perhaps a dozen nights' collecting in August scattered,, 

 as to time, oter nearly 30 years, and, as to place, over a considerable 

 part of the district, I should never have met with it there till this 

 year, and then have taken seven specimens in one night. 



The above facts certainly seem to suggest the theory that this 

 insect has for some reason or other gradually strengthened its position 

 during the last thirty years, first increasing in number, and then en- 

 larging the area of its distribution. 



On a good night in 1879, at Kanworth, four N. brevilinea occurred 

 among 250 captures, of which over 100 were Noctuae of various 

 species. In 1899 and 1900, in two places in the same district on a 

 similar night in each case, the commonest species of Noctua occurring 

 at light was L. phragmitidis, and the next commonest N. brevilinea. 

 L.pallens is not common in the fens, and L. eVwpwrfl, though abundant, 

 js not strongly attracted by light. 



It is interesting to note that during the same period Liparis 

 salicis, \\h\c\\ in 1871 was in countless pi'ofusion in the Hickling Fens,, 

 has gradually become almost a rarity. 



Paragon House School, Norwich : 

 October, 1900. 



TWO SPECIES OP TYPHLOCYBA NOT HITHERTO RECORDED 



AS BRITISH. 



BY JAMES EDWARDS, F. E. S. 



Typhloctba CRUENTA. 

 Typhlocyba cruenta, H.-Sch., Deuts. Ins., 164, 15 (1836) ; Kirschb., 



