286 THE entomologist's record. 



feel certain that there is some sort of cuhniaation in the occurrence of 

 ahnost all, if not all, forms of life. Consider our lepidoptera ! What 

 collector does not know bow curiously the abundance or scarcity of dift'er- 

 ent species varies in different seasons. Certainly, if the hunting-ground 

 be the same from year to year, as mine is, this peculiarity forces itself 

 upon one's attention. I recall, amongst many others, a Dici/cla oo 

 year (1887), an Agrotis obscnra year (1894), a Mamestra ahjccta year 

 (1900), and I have heard of Noctua (Icjuincta, N. snbrina, and even 

 Pliisia bnutea years. I do not seek to explain the fact, though I accept 

 iti as fully as that there may be years of Colias ediisa, C. In/ale, Knva- 

 nessa aiitiopa, Aurius conrolruli, and L'litda riamiiia. There may be 

 more than we understand in the complications brought about by the 

 variations of the climatic conditions of succeeding seasons, or there 

 may be something related to overcrowding, or over-competition, or 

 over-production. I do not know what it is, but there is a rise and fall 

 of species, as of nations, and the culmination of a species I call its 

 " climax." The climax of Epnnda Intidcnta is passed. I arrived upon the 

 scene before the species reached its height. I tell no man the full 

 numbers of specimens I have taken, suffice it that I took in 1899 

 nearly twice the number of the previous year, and in 1900 double the 

 number again. Thence the numbers decrease. Last year I halved the 

 product, and, again, this year, assiduous collecting has failed to produce 

 more than, roughly speaking, a half again ; and, with the falling off of 

 the actual number of specimens, comes also a falling off in the number 

 of aberrations, for which of course I chiefly look. In 1899 14% were 

 grey, in 1900 11%, and in 1901 8%. I cannot report the result of this 

 year's collecting until the insects are off" the boards, for, although I keep 

 an accurate record of each night's captures, 1 often discover later on that 

 the specimens recorded first as aberrations are only worn, or normal, on 

 closer examination. I have certainly, however, taken one or two very 

 nice forms, but not a second specimen of Stephens' ab. fonainiilU, the 

 type of which is not in his collection at the British Museum, and I 

 should much like to see it to compare with mine. I do not notice any 

 marked backwardness in this species. It appeared here first this year 

 on September 12th. In 1898, it came on September 21st (perhaps I 

 found it late), in 1899 on the 15th, in 1900 on the 11th, and in 1901 

 on the 5th. It is a remarkable thing to me that I never get a specimen 

 after October 9th, and that the first good steady rain cuts it off' entirely. 

 After a night's pouring rain I may get one specimen, but that is the 

 end. 



I have mentioned above that Aijiotis olm-iira, again this year, has 

 been more than usually connnon. This I also named as a " climax " 

 species. Since my great take at Kainham, between July 5th and 

 September, 1899, I have each year taken one or two specimens, and it 

 is evident to me that it occurs in these marshes with considerable 

 regularity. This year it did not occur until August 8th, and I have 

 taken eight or nine decent specimens. With A. obscnra I have noticed 

 comes, also, Ai/rotis )niirica)is, and, this year, I have had a far larger 

 number of this insect than for a good many years past, and at Mucking 

 it has always been scarce. 



Sugar in the late autumn has some difiticulties, it must be clapped 

 on well before dusk, for the moths fly early. Tonight, October 14th, 

 1 put it on at 5.30 p.m. Directly my 97 patches were finished, I lighted 



