NOTES ON COLLECTING. 26? 



Hying to light at Lewisham. On the night of July 2n(l I took one 

 in my garden on sugar, and the year before last I took the larva on 

 sugar. — Jos. F. Green, West Lodge, Blackheath. Jnlij '■llth, 1903. 



Sudden appe.yrance of Pyrameis cardui. — On September 21st I first 

 saw this species. I then took about 30 (mostly worn) ; on the 24th I 

 visited the locality again, and they were in countless hundreds. I 

 never saw such a sight ; a large percentage were worn. To my mind 

 there is little doubt we have just had a " flock " from over the water, 

 as my correspondents from all parts write to say that the species has 

 suddenly appeared in worn condition. Even here in Bexley, which is 

 a poor Diurni district, they are flying about among bricks and mortar. 

 I found I'ltisia i/aiiniia a fearful nuisance when netting P. cardui. — 

 L. W. Newman, Bexley, Kent. Scptonher 25th, 1903. 



Great abundance of Vanessids in the Strood district. — I have 

 already referred to the astonishing abundance of the larvfc of 

 I'l/raiiieis atalunta in this neighbourhood during the past month. 

 Every bed of nettles has had its tented inhabitant, and I have taken 

 hundreds without any special effort. The first one pupated on 

 August 4th, and I found one not half-an-inch long yesterday. On the 

 other hand, Aijlais urticae has been scarcer than usual. During the 

 last two seasons PijranieU cardiii has been very rare here, but is just 

 now appearing in large numbers. On a flowery bank near here, on 

 the 25th inst., I netted a dozen examples in very fair condition. 

 There were many others, although I did not trouble to make any 

 further captures. It is remarkable that I have seen no traces of larvae 

 this year, and I only found one last year. — J. Ovenden, Frindsbury, 

 Strood, Kent, tieptemher 2,1 t/i, 1903. 



Abundance of Pyrajieis cardui in Essex. — On Saturday, Septem- 

 ber 12th, between Southminster and Tillingham, I first saw I'l/mmeis 

 cardui in apparently good condition. Again, on September 26th, 

 between Aveley and Rainham, they were quite abundant. — J. H. S. 

 Harrison, Thorold Road, Ilford. September 28t/i, 1903. 



Pyrameis cardui and Plusia gamma at Chislehurst. — rijrameis 

 cardui was first seen here on September 23rd, since which date it has 

 been seen daily whenever a glimpse of sunshine occurs. Only one 

 was seen the first day, and not more than six on any other, but I have 

 not been to a likely spot, e.ij., a clover field, etc., to find them in 

 numbers, all that have come under my notice being in the roads or 

 garden. Having observed no larvit in the district, one would suppose 

 they were not natives. Several Plasia ;ia)iniia have been recently 

 seen ; they appeared before P. cardui, but unfortunately the exact 

 date was not recorded. — B. A. Bower, F.E.S., Chislehurst. Septem- 

 ber 2dth, 1903. 



Pyrameis cardui at Reigate. — Pyrameis cardui has appeared in 

 this district in numbers during the last few days. I think the first I 

 saw was on September 20th or 21st, but I cannot be positive as to 

 the date. — T. A. Chapman, M.D., Betula, Reigate. September 27tlt, 

 1903. 



Abundance of Pyrameis cardui and P. atai-anta at Iufokd. — These 

 two species have during the last few days been most abundant in 

 this district. I first saw Pi/rameia cardui about September 14th, /'. 

 atalanta a day or two later. Both species appeared to be in bred 

 condition when first seen, and became more abundant a few days after 



