NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC, 3'.) 



geinmaria were flitting along the hedges here, whilst Phigalia pilosaria 

 appeared ahiiost daily in my breeding cage, the first emergence being 

 February 13th. — S. Walker, York. March, 1891. 



Swansea. — Sallows are not nearly out yet (snow still on the ground) ; 

 this time last year they were in full bloom, and by the end of the month 

 I had taken many of the common species that frequent them. I have 

 so far had only Tceniocampa gothica and Sekfiia ilhtnaria out in my 

 breeding cages kept in a rather warm conservatory. Moths usually due 

 in October and November came to light the first and second weeks of 

 February : such as Cheiinatobia horeata, HyberJiia defoliaria, etc. A 

 beautiful variety of the latter was taken by Sir John Llewellyn in a 

 moth-trap ; it is quite black with red nervures ; I have never seen any- 

 thing like it in defoliaria before, although a var. of Tephrosia biufidularia 

 taken in the same district approaches it in colour, and I am informed 

 by Sir John that melanism is of common occurrence in the neighbour- 

 hood. — R. B. Robertson, Swansea. March, 1891. 



Newbury. — Hybernia progemmaria is out here, and H. rupicapraria, 

 nothing else is showing at present out of doors \ but some Endromis 

 versicolor., which have been in the pupa state for two years, are now 

 emerging. — M. Kimber. March T^rd, 1891. 



West Wickham. — A specimen of Notodouta camellna having made 

 its appearance indoors (not forced) last week, and one of Halias prasi- 

 nana a day or two after, I thought I would run down to West Wickham 

 yesterday (it being fine and warm, with a southerly breeze), to search 

 for Notodonta carnielita. I walked from Croydon through Shirley and 

 Addington, and examined the tree trunks and fences wherever I could, 

 but saw no trace of the insect. All I obtained were some species of 

 Hybernia [leucophcearia, progemmaria, and cesciilaria) which I could have 

 obtained equally well in town, and a few Depressaria. One fence had 

 been freshly pitched (as I found to my cost), and several distorted and 

 mutilated individuals of the latter genus were writhing and twisting 

 about in the sticky mess. I should like to know whether any of your 

 readers have been more lucky in finding N. carmelita. To-day the 

 wind has got into the east. Perhaps this may account for nothing 

 having " shown up " yesterday. — George Hollis, London. April 'jlh, 

 1891. 



Farnboro\ Kent. — This late severe weather has for a time put a 

 damper on my looking out for the earlier species — previous to it, 

 however, I have noticed the usual common things, but not in any 

 quantity — Phigalia pilosaria at light being the most plentiful so far. — 

 Hope Alderson. March 21st, 1891. 



Reading. — There is nothing stirnng here yet ; it is still winter, frost, 

 snow, and east winds. The 24th of March was a warmer day, and a 

 number of Tceniocampa populeti and one Asphalia flavicornis emerged 

 in my pupa box, but I have had none out since. — W. Holland. April 

 yd, 1891. 



Chester. — The entomological outlook, so far, is a poor one owing 

 to the continued spell of cold weather. Here and there we have a few 

 sallows out in bloom — the wonder is how they do it ! From the 

 Hawarden district I have, in glass jars, an interesting lot of Tcenio- 

 campa stabilis, 7. cnida, and T. gothica taken from the catkins at night 

 — all alive — and undergoing "a period of examination and inquiry," 



