1911.] 55 



the liabits of this beautiful insect iu its restricted Norfolk haunts for 

 the last few years, and I trust that these additional notes may not be 

 without interest to some of your readers. 



In some seasons C. dorsalis puts in an appearance here at the end 

 of June, but as a rule it is not to be met with until about July 3rd to 

 the 7th or 8th, and perhaps about the middle of July is the best time 

 to search for it in normal seasons, although I have met with stragglers 

 in the first few days of August, which, however, is quite the exception. 

 The live specimens I sent to my correspondent were three out of sixteen 

 which I captiu-ed on July 27th, 1909, which goes to show that the 

 insect was fairly plentiful at that late date of the month. Looking 

 up my notes, I find that C. dorsalis was by no means uncommon in 

 1906 ; that it occurred in greater numbers in 1907 and 1908 ; that it 

 was not so plentiful in 1909, and was comparatively scarce in 1910, 

 when a very few only were observed. I suspect that the general 

 scarcity of many insects in this district in the last two years, doubtless 

 caused by the prevalence of a,bnormally wet and cold weather with 

 very little sunshine, would also account in a great measure for the 

 noticeable scarcity of Chrysopidai. I quite endorse Miss Aldersou's 

 remark that C dorsalis is a very handsome species, and the points of 

 distinction between C. dorsalis and C. perla are so fully given by her, 

 that it is not necessary for me tt) enumerate them here. But, I may 

 say further, from a careful examination of scores of specimens, tha-^ 

 the markings and points by which the subject of these notes should 

 be readily distinguished from the common C jjerla, its closest British 

 ally, are fairly constant and reliable. The black subcosta is alone 

 sufficient to separate it at a glance from C. 'perla, and of course the 

 important structural differences in the tarsal claws of the two species 

 as shown in the Plate should not be omitted. 



And now for the habits of the two species : — The wings of 

 C. dorsalis are stronger than those of C. perla, and from this circum- 

 stance, as might be expected, the former has a much more powerful 

 flight, and is in every way more restless and active. C. dorsalis is 

 never seen on the wing in the day time, imless distin-lied from the 

 Scotch fir trees to which it nuist be exclusively attached, since I have 

 never beaten out a specimen from any other tree. When disturbed by 

 the beating stick or otherwise, it generally flies out vigorouslv to a 

 considerable distance, unless other fir trees are near, in which case it 

 makes at once for them, settles in the branches, and quickly hides 

 therein. Nor does it fly out therefrom at one's approach, unless the 

 branches are again disturbed. But so active is C. dorsalis on the 



