OKTHOPTKRA. 248 



Ai'iiialia was continually flying, but whence the insects came we could 

 not discover. During the whole of the six weeks' period of the 

 insect's occurrence this spot was the one specially selected by it. 

 Here it could be taken in hundreds, whilst very few were to be found 

 elsewhere. Mr. Wilding informs me that he has observed a similar 

 phenomenon at Wallasey. During the night the insects evidently 

 burrowed into the sand, for, after the first few days, they were observed 

 emerging and, moreover, could be exposed by scraping away the sand. 

 There are some interesting problems connected with the occurrence of 

 this creature that await definite solution. These are : — 



1. Its sporadic appearance in profusion. Here we have an insect suddenly 

 occurring in abundance in a new locality that has for some years been specially 

 searched for it. 



2. The selection of a spot for congregation. How is this accomplished ? It 

 seems most likely that the first insect simply drops in a suitable looking spot, and 

 that the others are attracted to it, or rather to some odoriferous emanation which 

 soon pervades the area, for after the spot had been completely cleared of insects (a 

 very easy task) new-comers were constantly arriving. 



3. The reason for this assemblage. It seems not unreasonable to suppose 

 that in the case of Aenialia rufa a very large number of the individuals of a really 

 rare species annually congregate at a particular spot, probably to facilitate repro- 

 duction. This hypothesis would afford an explanation of problem no. 1, for the 

 discovery by a collector of the little area frequented in any year might be only a 

 happy accident. 



— George W. Chaster, 42. Talbot Street, Southport. Auiju^t Vdth, 

 1902. 



©RTHOPTERA. 



Orthoptera in Ashdown Forest. — A stroll across the Ashdown 

 Forest on July 19th resulted in little of interest. The season was 

 still too young for Orthoptera to be abundant in the mature stage. 

 Stenobothrus riridiilKs, L., was numerous, and stridulating when the 

 sun was out. S. parallehis, Zett., of course, was in numbers, but 1 

 did not find a single S. bicolor, Charp. Gowji/toccrns niacidatuti, 

 Thunb., occurred in the adult stage in a few places on the higher part 

 of the Forest. I hunted in vain in one marshy place in hopes of 

 finding some more uncommon form; Tltatnnotrhon c'/Hc/r».s, L., was 

 common enough in some places, but all were immature, mostly in the 

 " nymph " stage, when the organs of flight are visible as little flaps on 

 the shoulder. The most interesting specimen I found was a single 

 Platydeis brarlii/jitfra, L. ; this is the first time that this species has 

 been noted from this neighbourhood. — M. Burr, B.A., F.Z.S.,Dormans 

 Park. July, 10th, 1902. 



Exotic Locustid in England. — Mr. Percival Westell has sent me 

 for determination an exotic locustid, which appears to be Ayroicia 

 rittipes, Redtenbacher, recorded by that author from Thercsopolis, in 

 Brazil. Mr. W'estell's specimen, Avbich is a female in good condition, 

 was captured alive on the wall of a house, in the middle of .)uly last, 

 at St. Albans. In reply to my enquiries, Mr. W^estell informs me that 

 there is an orchid nursery close at hand, where plants an; frecjuently 

 received from South America and other tropical countric's ; this speci- 

 men was probably imported in the egg stage, and succeeded in reaching 

 maturity in the artificial heat of the nursery. It was in too good 

 condition to have come over in the imago stage. We know, too, that 

 at least some locustids thai are furnished with large sword-shaped 



