80 THE entomologist's record. 



take a stroll in the woods to-day ; the usual early species were well to 

 the fore ; Hybern/'a leucophcearia in jilenty and very variable was noted, 

 together with a sprinkling of Anisopteryx cescidar!a whilst Phigalia 

 pilosaria and Tortricodes hyeinana were common ; an unexpected 

 find Avas a specimen of Asphalia flavlcornis on the trunk of an oak; I 

 do not recollect ha\dng seen the occurrence of this species noted in 

 February before ; but I remember some years ago taking a specimen 

 off the " Archbishop's palings " at West Wickham, March 2nd. Bre- 

 phos pavthenias was worked for, but not seen ; I fancy this species also 

 occurs in February in favourable seasons, as I saw a siiecimen a few 

 years back at Tilgate on the 1st of March. A novel feature to me was 

 the behaviour of H. Jeucoj^hcearia. I have always found it in a very 

 lethargic state in the fences or the trunks ; but, to-day — excited by the 

 temperature — it was flying merrily and even wildly in the sun, 

 occasionally settling on the strewn leaves and brambles. — W. G. 

 Sheldon, Croydon. February I'dth, 1893. 



As I recorded last season, we get in Epping Forest dark and banded 

 forms of Hyhcrnia lemopJioearia, but the dark form has only occurred 

 occasionally with me. On February 20th this year, over the same 

 gi-ound as in former years, I took more of the dark, than the type or any 

 other form. As melanism is now occupying attention, it may be of interest 

 if other collectors will record Avhether the same has been noticed by 

 them around our district. Phigalia pedaria, Hybernia marginaria, 

 rupicapraria and Auisopteryx iescularia occurred, and I heard of Nyssia 

 hispidaria on the same date. — Ambrose Quail, 15, Stamford Hill, N. 

 —February 24:th, 1893. 



I noticed a male specimen of Pieris rapce flying in the sunshine in 

 our garden on the 19th Februar}'. It was flying vigorously when I 

 saw it in the middle of the day, but probably as the warmth declined, 

 and its flight became weaker, it fell a victim to a hungry bird. In all 

 probability these early specimens result from pupaj which have spun up 

 in greenhouses, or near chimneys. I was rather confirmed in this view 

 by the discovery of a female rajjce in a greenhouse only a few days ago. 

 — Wm. Edward Nicholson, Lewes. February 28th, 1893. 



Micro Lepidoptera in the North of Scotland in 1892. — From 

 various reports it would ap])ear that the idea has become general in the 

 South that, in the season of 1892, Scotland was a veritable El-Dorado 

 to the collector of Lepidoptera. No doubt many insects were ab- 

 normally abundant, and, when we were favoured with a gleam of sun- 

 shine, certain species swarmed in a way to astonish and bewilder the 

 tyro ; yet, uijon closer inspection, it did not require much insight 

 to notice that the more interesting species were conspicuous by their 

 absence. As far as Micro LepidoiDtera are concerned the season was as 

 bad as could well be imagined. Fortunately, the " eternal drizzle " 

 did occasionally dispel, and the sun break through the clouds. On such 

 occasions I was often surjn-ised when I came to kill my captures at the 

 number of rare species I had taken, and, of course, was greatly elated 

 at my success. The fir woods in sheltered situations paid well. Several 

 of the sjiecies of Retinia, and other fir-frequenting Tortrices were 

 rather common ; Coccyx coniferana, for instance, was more abundant 

 than I ever saAv it before, and a nice series of Betinia duplana was taken 

 near Forres. During the season I visited and worked for a longer or 

 shorter period in the neighbourhood of Kaunoch, and Kirkmichael in 

 Perthshire, a little to the east of Loch Laggan in Invernesshire, Forres 



