158 THE entomologist's record. 



were comparatively scarce. During the latter days of June and the 

 early days of July, sugar here was most prolific, Triplnxna pronuba and 

 Agrotis exdamatio7US literally swarmed ; Aplecta adveiia and Agrotis 

 corticea being also fairly plentiful, whilst Timandra aviataria was 

 common at dusk. — (Rev.) E. C. Dobree Fox, Tewkesbury. July 

 iitk, 1890. 



Warrington. — The nights here have been so cold and damp that I 

 have been unable to do much this season. The only good insect I 

 have taken being a worn specimen of Helioihis ar?niger. Is not July a 

 curious time for this species, especially in worn condition ? — Thos. 

 TuNSTALL, Warrington. July 12th, 1890. 



Devonshire. — At Braunton Burrows, a locality worked some 30 years 

 ago by Mr. G. F. Mathews, a day spent on the sandhills was spoilt by 

 heavy rains. There are many wild flowers growing there, amongst 

 others a few mullein plants, on some of which were larvae of Cucullia 

 verbasci. I collected twenty, and saw a few of the striped pnipa cases 

 of the ichneumon that infests them. I visited Lundy Island, where I 

 have been pretty often, and turned up nothing new ; the insects are 

 mostly smaller and paler than on the mainland. Very misty weather 

 prevails and south-west winds sweep the island, which is a second 

 " Heligoland " in many respects. The geological formation is partly 

 of granite like Cornwall, and partly slate, like the Ilfracombe coast. — 

 J. Henderson, Streatham. July 26th, 1890. 



Ke?it. — Has anyone observed the failure of sugar again this season? 

 The last twice I have applied the bait I have only seen on it four 

 moths, two Diplerygia pinastri and two Rusina tenebrosa. I am well 

 aware that numbers of the Nocture usually captured in this vvay, have 

 been out for a long time. Some of them come to light, but they won't 

 put in an appearance at sugar. The only moth I have attracted in 

 abundance this way is Miana fasciuncula. The excessive abundance of 

 aphides is, to my mind, the solution of the enigma. I find appearances 

 this year anything but normal. Some species are a fortnight earlier 

 than usual, others equally late. Generally speaking, I don't find insects 

 as plentiful as in ordinary seasons. — C. Fenn^ Lee, Kent. June 26th. 



Essex. — Larvae of Bombyx casircnsis were very common on Wakering 

 Marsh, but not seen elsewhere. These larvae are not at all particular 

 as to food. I observed many more on Statice limoniuniy Atriplex 

 portulacoides., and I think A. littoralis, as well as on various coarse 

 grasses than on Artemisia. If placed in a cage with birch, rose, and 

 seaworm-wood, they show a marked preference for the rose and birch, 

 particularly the former, for which, I learned from Mr. Mera, the larvae 

 have a great liking. — F. G. Whittle, Lothbury, E.G. July 'jtli, 1890. 



Howth. — AVith reference to my note in the last number of the Record 

 I have added another Plusia to those then mentioned as captured in 

 my garden, viz. : — P. brac/ea, one specimen only ; P. pulchrina was the 

 most abundant. Common moths have been extremely abundant at 

 sugar, and such troublesome fellows as Xylophasia monoglypha, etc., 

 fight and push each other about over the sugared patches every night ; 

 but I have seen none of the Plusias at sugar. They are chiefly about 

 the flowers of the common turncap lily. With me light has not been 

 productive this season. I think I have Agrotis lunigera (taken at 

 sugar), but am not at all sure about it. I also took Aplecta herbida. 



