152 THE entomologist's record. 



Guernsey. — I left London April 19tli for Guernsey, and antici- 

 pating that during my intended few days' stay, that my opportunities 

 and inclination for collecting would be alike small, I " travelled 

 light," from the collector's point of view. The glorious weather, 

 however, which prevailed during my week's stay, combined with a 

 pressing request from the Editor to procure him some larvae of Melitcea 

 cinxia, induced me to spare one afternoon to visit my usual hunting- 

 ground, viz., " The Gouffre," where I arrived with my friend Mr. Peek 

 about 3 p.m. on the 24:th. After a drive of some miles, I was quite 

 surprised, although prepared for curiosities in the way of early emer- 

 gence, to see a fine M. cinxia almost as soon as we left the hotel, and 

 this was but the introduction to them, as lower down the cliff banks 

 we found them in fair numbers, although not nearly so plentiful as 

 they are later in the season, and very wild and difficult to approach. 

 Diligent search soon resulted in discovering some nearly full-fed larvfB, 

 which Avere feeding singly all over their locality, and from the manner 

 in which their food-plant, the narrow-leaved plantain, had been de- 

 voured, they must have l)een in great plenty. During March Mr. 

 Peek had, in a previous visit, discovered a web full of the young larv^, 

 Avhich feed early, gi-egariously, separating when partly grown. On the 

 slopes, which were covered with gorse and dog-daisies, were large 

 numbers of Chrysophanus phkeas, Pararge megcera, and Pieris rapce and 

 iiapi, with a few Lyctena icarns and Thecla ruhi. Pieris brassiere lias been 

 common about the gardens, together with a few hybernated Vanessas, 

 and I noticed two Euchelia jacobcece flying on the road sides. On the 

 cliffs with the M. cinxia were a few Plusia gamma and Asjnlates citraria, 

 evidently to represent the Noctu^ and Geomktr^ respectively. Night- 

 work I have entii-ely neglected, being otherwise occupied, but from the 

 cold and heavy dews on most evenings, I do not think I have at present 

 lost much. — Albert J. Hodges, Guernsey. 



Colchester. — As this is such an exceptionally early season, perhaps 

 the dates of the undermentioned cai)tures may be worth recording, and 

 the specimens were all captured by my father, my brother Philip, or 

 myself : — February 19th, nine Nyssia kispidaria, several PhygaUa pilo- 

 saria, and one Pieris rapce ; March 8th, Andrena gynana, clarkeUa, and 

 prcecox ; March 9th, Pioncea forficalis ; April 14th, Andrena varians ; 

 April 20th, Fjuchloe cardamines, Argynnis enphroysne, and Syrichthvs 

 alveolus ; April 22nd, Thanaos tages (there is only one previous record 

 for this district) ; April 23rd, Plafypteryx hamida, and Acronycta 

 ruraicis; April 2'4th, Thecla rubi, and Macroglossa fiiciformis ; April 2oth, 

 Notodonta chaonia, Cymatophora ridens, Dasychira pudibunda, Acronycta 

 psi, Pararge iiteg(era,Heliodes arbuti ; April 2Gt\i, Notodonta trepida, and 

 Vanessa atalanta; April 27th, V. urticce larvfe, full fed. — Bernard 

 S. Harwood, 2, Brooklyn Villas, Colchester. 



Highgate. — After the rains of February, the weather became very 

 dry, niilcl, and genial. A stroll through the woods produced (off the 

 trees), several specimens of Hybernia leticopha;aria, H. progevimaria, 

 E. asscidaria and Phigalia pilosaria. Amongst them were some of the 

 apterous or semi-apterous females. I also obtained Biston hirtaria, a 

 Tortrix {Ephippiphora argyrana ?) and Ditirncea fagella in abundance. 

 I fancy that P. pilosaria is much commoner than it used to be in this 

 neighbourhood, for Newman remarks that " it is not common near 

 London, but is abundant in the North and West of England." — George 

 HoLLis, Dartmouth Park Hill, N.W. April, 1893. 



