138 THE entomologist's record. 



LARv^. — The large amount of sunshine that we have been fortunate 

 enough to have had since April 13th, seems to have favourably 

 affected plant and insect life to a much greater extent than the 

 frequent cool (or even cold) nights have affected them adversely. 

 Having heard of the abundance of ordinary spring butterflies, and 

 witnessed in the London suburbs the large numbers of the two 

 common Pierids, Pier is brassicae and P. rcipae, the chance of 

 an hour's ramble on the slopes of the chalkhills overlooking the 

 Medway at Hailing, on May 23rd, was too good to be missed, and, on 

 as perfect a morning as could be desired, I found myself wandering 

 through the woods on the summit of the crest of the hills that lie 

 between Hailing and Bush. There were lots of small fry already on 

 the wing, Neiuophora schirarziella, Adela viridella, and other interesting 

 species, whilst in the wood-clearings Eupoecilia macidosanawas abundant 

 among the blue-bells, which were now in their prime. In the wood- 

 riding the abundance of Pieris napi and Euchlo'e cardamines were 

 noticeable, whilst, wherever the clearings opened towards the Medway 

 slopes, an unexpected abundance of Poli/ouunatus icanis S s was 

 noticeable, settling on the blue-bell floAvers, in a manner known to be 

 common in ^ s of Celastrina artiiolns, which also were not uncommon. 

 On the pathways themselves yisoniades tac/es was in great numbers, 

 and in good condition, but only a single Hesperia malrae, whilst, from 

 the bushes by the path-side, Venilia iiiaculata came out in a way that 

 I had not seen for many years. But the insect of the clearings was 

 Euchelia jacobaeae, dozens of which flew up wherever the ragwort had 

 got a hold in the year-old clearings. An occasional Brent/iiseK/dtrosijne 

 flew in the same chosen haunts, but probably not more than a dozen 

 were seen during the stroll. They were wonderfully tame though, 

 sitting in the hot sun, and it was no great trouble to carefuU}' pick 

 them up with the fingers as they sat with the wings down horizontally 

 on the ground, getting the full benefit of the exceptional heat. On 

 the outside of the woods, a few examples of Aridalia ornata and Botiji^ 

 pandalis appeared to be very early, and with these were occasional 

 examples of Coremia ferriajata. Strangely enough, among the many 

 3- Encldo'e cardamines seen, not a single 2 was observed. Callnphnjs 

 rubi was frequently observed on the leaves, heeling over to one side as 

 if it were to allow the sun to strike its full force on the green of the 

 underside, which in this position appeared to be the acme of a heat- 

 absorbent valuable to the insect. In a warm sunny corner a $ 

 ('elastrina arfiioliia was observed apparently busy egglaying on 

 lihamnus franf/ula, and another on Knoiu/iinis eiirapaeiis. We watched 

 the former for a long time, but its resting-places were quite out of 

 reach, and impossible of examination. In all the clearings and on the 

 downs Anaitis plai/iata swarmed, whilst, on the edges of a clover-field, 

 Cnenonijmpha painphilus was very abundant, as also was Poli/ommatia: 

 iearm. Only a single Aricia aatrarche was noticed. Almost all the 

 plants of Arctium hippa were attacked by larva? of Porrittia i/alacto- 

 dactt/la, the larvae mostly fuUfed, indeed, some had already left the 

 younger leaves, and had taken up a position on the undersides of the 

 older leaves, either against the midrib or one of the larger branches for 

 pupation, some have, indeed, already pupated. But the real purpose of 

 this note was to record the immense abundance of larvae on the trees 

 everywhere ; no doubt mostly of common species, but in countless 



