go [March, 



In September, JPararge megaera and P. maera were not uncommon, 

 all the latter being of the adrasta form. Pieris hrassicae and rapae 

 were common, especially the latter, but P. na2n was not at all so. 

 Leucop>hasia sina^ns flew in the fields and in the sides of the wood, but 

 was by no means common, Goneptergx rhamni was numerous at the 

 end of August, but after the first week of September, which was wet and 

 cold, very few were to be seen ; even on bright sunny daj^s the cold 

 weather apparently drove them to hibernation. I have not yet mentioned 

 one butterfly which swarmed in almost incredible numbers all through 

 August, Lycaena icarus. On several occasions I saw over one hundi-ed 

 sitting close together on damjj spaces, sometimes in a space of less than 

 two square yards, all males. Only once did I see a female in these 

 assemblies. Although I examined them very carefully, I could see no signs 

 of a variety among them. As I have said, the first week of September 

 was cold and wet ; and this seemed to have a remarkable effect on the 

 Vanessids, for all through that month I did not see a single specimen of 

 A. urticae, V. io, or P. cardiii, less than a dozen P. atalanta, and only 

 one P. c-alhum, yet after the first week the days were bright and sunny, 

 though the nights were decidedly cold. 



I did no night work during my visit for various reasons, one being 

 that it was impossible to get materials for sugaring, another that I am 

 not now so j'oung or energetic as I once was, so that not very many 

 moths came in my way. A few, however, came into the room to the 

 light through the window, among them a beautifully fresh specimen of 

 Hadena atriplicis and another of Leucania albipiincta, one A. pyra- 

 midea, and, of course, many Neuronia popula7'is. In the daytime a 

 single specimen of Macroylossa stellatarum in fresh condition was taken, 

 and a few minutes afterwards a very worn-out specimen of Hemaris 

 tityus flying about a scabious flower. In the clover-fields, Euclidia 

 glyphica and Strenia clatlirata were common, as was, later on, Anaitis 

 plagiata. A few Acontia luctuosa, Acidalia ornata, and A. ruhigi- 

 nata also were seen, as were odd specimens of Camptogramma 

 hilineata, Pidonia atomaria., and Cidaria prunata. 



I was much struck by the fact that so few species occurred that are 

 not taken in the British Isles. With regard to that important point in 

 field entomology — the weather- — I left cold, dull, and unpleasant conditions 

 in England on July 21st to find splendidly bright hot weather in France, 

 which, except for occasional thunderstorms, lasted up to the very end of 

 August. 



Oxford. 



Junuarij 1D2L 



