252 THE entomologist's record. 



during the past ten days, and have had very suitable evenings, warm, 

 dark, damp, breezy and still, but the result seems the same under all 

 conditions. Phlogophora meticulosa was very common on October 22nd, 

 23rd, and 24th, but the very severe frosts of the 26th and 27th, put an 

 end to them. A few Misdia oxyacanthce, Cemsiis vaccitiii, C. spadicea, 

 2 or 3 (freshly emerged) Plusia gai/ima, Scopelosoma satellitia, and a few 

 worn Anchocelis pistaci7ia and Xanthia ferruginea complete the very poor 

 list. Sugar was tried twice, viz., on October 23rd, on the Downs, with 

 the result of one belated Luperi?m tes/acca, and 30th, in the woods, when 

 two fine fresh Agriopis aprilina were taken, surely a very late date to 

 find this species in fine condition.- — Albert J. Hodges, 2, Highbury 

 Place, N. 



Dcvo7i and Somerset. — I have spent a month in Devonshire and 

 Somersetshire. Night after night I tried sugaring in the most likely 

 localities and I never got more than one moth in the evening. The ivy 

 was magnificent, and scented the air, but till the last evening at 

 Cheddar I took nothing. On this evening a good Xylina semibrunnea 

 was my only prize. — E. Bazett, Reading. October 2'jth, 1890. 



Somerset. — Ivy will soon be a mass of blossom hereabouts, but 

 insects are very scarce. It is yet a litde early for the bulk of insects at 

 ivy, a few Xanthia citrago and Folia flavicinda have been taken at 

 sugar, but not in such numbers as last year. No Sphinx convolviili up 

 to the present date (September 26th). Collecting has been a htde 

 better here during the past week. — J. Mason, Somerset. October 20th, 

 1890. 



Xent. — Larvce of Emnielesia tmifasciata have not been scarce on 

 Bartsia odontites, and, I think the insect would be found to be generally 

 common, it searched for in the larval state. How late the season is, 

 and how tar this lateness has been prolonged, was evidenced on Saturday 

 (October iSth), when I noticed Chesias spartiata, common and in fine 

 condition, whilst a few days ago I took Cidaria russata. Oporabia 

 diliitata is only just appearing, also Cerastis vaccinii. A week ago, not 

 one of the latter occurred among the other visitors at sugar. — C. Fenn, 

 Burnt Ash Hill, Lee. October 20th, 1890. 



Barnsley. — During the two or three weeks of fine summer weather 

 we had in August, Fenihina sauciana and Hypsipctes elutata occuired 

 in profusion on our moorlands. On September loth, I took C/oantha 

 solida^inis and Oporabia fligrammaria from the bare decayed twigs of 

 fir-trees. Both species have deposited ova, which have changed colour, 

 but remain unhatched. Can any one enlighten me as to the life 

 histories of these species? — J. Harrison, Barnsley. October 22nd. 



Winchester. — As to ivy, I have taken nothing this year, but the nights 

 have been so cold that I have hardly taken the trouble to visit it. 

 Usually I take Cidaria psittacata in some numbers, and all the common 

 autumn Noctu^ in plenty. The simplest method, after taking a look 

 over a bush, is to beat it into a beating tray, as very few Noctu/E fail 

 to fall when disturbed. Ivy blossom is just as capricious as "sugar," 

 sometimes an apparently good night is blank and vice versa. I was 

 once out at a bush near Brockenhurst, when the air seemed alive with 

 approaching insects ; chiefly Agriopis aprilina, Orthosia viacilenta, O. 



