84 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



of much more than an occasional Xylina lithoriza {areola). In May 

 the larvae of Geometra papilionaria are to be taken on the birches 

 in the Monkswood and Wake Arms sections. The best way to find 

 them is to search the branches of the smaller birches, as recom- 

 mended in the Ent. Record, i., p. 23. They are rather difficult to see, 

 as they greatly resemble the birch catkins. They rest stretched out 

 stiffly, generally at the end of the twig. Among the butterflies 

 Lyccena argiolus may be taken rather plentifully, on sunny days in 

 Monkswood" and Epping Thicks, while A. etiphrosyne, Euchloe car- 

 damines, Nisionades iages and Syrichthus malvce are to be found 

 throughout. Flying in company with the butterflies in the Monkswood 

 section, are swarms of Ematur^a atoviaria and P. petraria, with an oc- 

 casional Phytometra cenea {viridaria). {To be continued.) 



Platypteryx sicula. — I must mention the capture of four larvae of 

 Platypteryx sicula on September 12th, by a former collector, Mr. Grigg, 

 and myself; and having searched for the moth in vain in the early 

 summer, it is very gratifying to find that the species is still existing in 

 its very circumscribed locality. The difficulty of obtaining it is, 

 however, very great, as the trees have grown up very much since the 

 days when Mr. Grigg and others were so successful. — Geo. C. Griffiths. 

 Novejnber 30///, 1891, 



Caradrina superstes. — The specimens of the above, captured by 

 Mr. Hodges, are very interesting to me, never having seen the species 

 alive, — and it would be valuable to collate the number of undoubted 

 specimens known to have been taken here, with the localities where 

 they have occurred. It bears such a superficial resemblance to C. 

 blanda, that I daresay it is often overlooked on the sugar for that 

 species, and this is more likely from the way the insects of this genus 

 rest without exposing the hind wings.-— C. Fenn, Lee, Kent. 



I have had no difficulty in distinguishing C. superstes on the sugared 

 flowerheads, even in the excitement of capture, from our form of C. 

 blatida. — A. J. Hodges. 



Attractiveness of Flowers. — One of the noticeable facts of the 

 past season in these parts (South Devon), appears to be the unusual 

 absence of visitors on flowers, in most years so attractive ; such as the 

 scented tobacco {N. affinis), red valerian, rhododendrons, honeysuckle, 

 cherry-laurel, rasi)berry blossoms, lavender, etc. With the exception of 

 a very few common butterflies and Plusia gamma, on sunny days no 

 lepidoptera were seen to visit them (though frequently watched at all 

 hours). It was the same with barberry and laburnum flowers in the 

 spring, and the number of insects on sallow was but small. Yewberries, 

 though in abundance this autumn, were left untouched when fully ripe, 

 and at ivy, though there was a scattering of insects, few were visible 

 feasting, and most of those obtained had to be shaken off the plants. — 

 William S. Riding. December 22nd, 1891. 



Hecatera SERENA. — With us, this species feeds on various species 

 of Picris, and is most common on railway banks, etc. The larva is 

 abundant, but is so terribly infested with ichneumons that I have given 

 up attempting to breed it, the results being only about four or five per 

 cent. The moth occurs on palings, and at sugar and flowers at dusk. 

 I daresay it will feed on most Conipositce. My larvae have been 

 obtained by sweeping at dusk and in the afternoon. Sowthistle would. 



