. NOTKS ON fOLLErTING, ETC. 177 



being in absolutely perfect condition, ratlier surprising for a liybernated 

 insect taken so late in the spring) ; two Apamea gemma, one Tcnnio- 

 campa gothica, one Tceniocampa gracilis and one Noctua ruhi. Meliana 

 ftammea, I was informed by Mr. Bailej^ (a local collector, who rendered 

 me much valuable assistance) was nicely out, but owing to the cold 

 nights I did not try light, and consequently saw none. Digging at the 

 roots of })0})lars produced one pupa of Trochilinm apiforwis, though the 

 traces of tlie larva^ were apparent in many of the trees. Of tlie common 

 butterflies, Pieris hrassicce, rapcf and napi were of course in abundance 

 during the hot sunshine, and a good many Enchlo'e cardamines turned 

 up, with a few Pararge megcera in tlie lanes. One or two Ematnrga 

 atomaria in the Fen, and single specimens each of Euclidia mi, Mela- 

 nippe sociata and Antidea hadiata, with a couple of young larvae of 

 Bomhyx quercut^, completes the list of insects taken. Not a very o-rand 

 one for Wicken. — Henry A. HilI;, 132, Haverstock Hill, Hampstead 

 N.W. Mai/ 11th, 1893. 



Soidhend. — I was at Southend from April 17th to May lltli, Init 

 owing to the almost continuous north-easterly gales, m_y captTu-'es Avere 

 not very large. Some of the dates are very early for the respective 

 species, the following lieing the most noticeable : — Ajn-il IStli, 

 Poli/ommatns phlmis, Syrichflnis maJvcf, and Cdix spinida ; April 19th, 

 Strenia dathrata, Eupithecia centaureata, E. coronata and Psyche radi- 

 dla ; April 24th, Argynnis euphrosyne ; April 25th, Lycmia alexis and 

 Chortohius pamphilns ; April 27th, Viminia rumicis and Cuspidia mega- 

 cephala; April 29th, Cuspidia psi, Satyrus megcera, Agrotis exdamafionis 

 and Grammesia frilinea ; May 1st, Hadena genistce ; May 3rd, AspiJates 

 cilraria. Anthocharis cardamines was very plentiful near Benfleet and 

 I also found the ova on the flower stalks of Erysimum allaria. My 

 other captures included Hemerophda abruptaria, Acidalia promvtata 

 Eupithecia abhreviata, E. pumilata, Tceniocampa gracilis, and a few larva? 

 of Bombyx quercus, Odonestis potatoria, Trichiura cratcegi, Arctia villica 

 Diloba ca'ruleocep)hala, Phorodesma smaragdaria, &c. Some of tlie larvae 

 were very forward. Eriogaster lanestris in second skin, on April 19th, 

 Vanessa iirtiae full fed on 6th May, and many others. I think some of 

 the latter species must have passed the winter in the pujia state for 

 they were quite fresh, and are easily separated from the tattered, liy- 

 bernated sj^ecimens. Mr. Piatt, of Chipping Norton, sent me some 

 pupae full developed, about Christmas time, but they failed to emero-e ; 

 possibly it was the railway journey that killed them. — A. U. B^ti'ley' 

 28, Amhurst Park, N. May 12th, 1893. [We do not think the 

 suggestions re Vanessa urticce at all probable. — Ed.]. 



Seaton. — We have had sunshine here since 1st March, and some 

 extremely hot nights, when insects appeared in gi-eat quantities round 

 the lamps, many species very uiuch before they were due. Argynnis 

 euphrosyne, numerous since 27tli April. Pararge egeria and P. megcera 

 since April 13th. I took Hepialns Inpidinns on April 2otli. On "llth 

 May, I noticed fourteen different species of butterflies in two hours ; 

 including one Colias edusn and one Vanessa poly chlor as, at lio-lit. Demas 

 coryli, Arctia villica and Dasychira pudibnnda, are very numerous now. 

 I also took Notodonta chaonia and N. dodonea. Many June Noctu.e I 

 captured, niglit after night; the best of many good species beino- 

 Dianthcecia albimacula, the food-plant (Silene nutans) oTowino- here! 

 Geometers and many species of the Micro-lepidoptera are equally 

 numerous and early. — John N. Still. May 12th, 1893. 



