300 THE entomologtst's record. 



how many British specimens there were of P. Imicophcea in all the 

 British collections I should have said fewer pairs than there appear to be 

 dozens. To those wlio collect insects for their inherent beauty and 

 to learn something from them, I would add that British specimens of 

 P, leucophcea vary in no Avay from the Continental specimens. The 

 latter can be bought at a penny each and eggs can be obtained at Hd. 

 per dozen from the Continental dealers in the spring. 



Another species which is generally considered very rare as British, 

 puzzles me. Last year, I had several letters sent me refen-ing to offers of 

 Cerastis erythrocejjhala from Canterbury, in one case as many as five 

 specimens being offered in exchange for quite ordinary species. Now 

 Mr. Stevens says (Ent., xxvi., p. 297) that he has a long series taken 

 under the South Downs between Brighton and Eastbourne, and again 

 inland between Dover and Canterbury. It is of course to be assumed 

 that this series has been purchased. Mr. Hammond, who used to live 

 midway between Dover and Canterbury, informed Mr. Stevens that he 

 used to take this species on ivy in his own garden. Mr. Stevens 

 further observes that tliere are " in Mr. Burney's collection several 

 specimens mostly from the latter neighbourhood," i.e., Canterljury. In 

 looking over the magazines I find one record for the species during the 

 last twenty years, viz., at Wells, Somerset, by Dr. Livett (Ent., viii., 279). 

 Now if the Canterljury specimens in Mr. Stevens, and the late Kev. H. 

 liurney's collection are British, there is no reason to suppose that those 

 sent out by the Canterbury dealers are not the same, and vice versa. 

 Assuming them to be British, why do we pretend our ignorance of this 

 species by not publishing captures, and why do we not put the species 

 on the same level as does the collector who offers it in exchange for 

 ordinary species ? I must record it as my emphatic opinion that the 

 undoubted liritish sjiecimens in our crack collections and the doubtful 

 ones offered in exchange are all parts of the same Ijroods, cauglit in 

 the same woods, or bred in the same pots. We are all interested in 

 the matter. It is not a personal one I I want to put it on a broader 

 liasis. The man who buys these things and is afraid to say he has 

 them may be ignored, he has no part in entomological science, but 

 we do want to know whether some of our species do occur in Britain 

 or not. Messrs. Hanl)ury and Jeffrey have lifted the cloud in part from 

 Kentish Icucopho'a. Who'll do the same for Kentish erijthrocephala ? 

 Things have been swarming at sugar this autumn. Erythrocepluda isn't 

 over yet. Who'll go to Canterbury and catch a lot during the next fort- 

 night. Leisure and inclination are the only requisites. I must add that 

 Mr. Parry, C'liurch Street, Canterbury, has offered for many years to take 

 me, personally, to get both these species, but however much I have had 

 the inclination, I have never yet had the leisure. That he Avill extend his 

 courtesy to any other lepidojiterist equallv interested I have no manner 

 of doubt. — T. W. Ti;tt, Westcoml)e Hill,'S.E. October ISth, 1893. 



Notes from Cannock Chase. — The complete absence at light of 

 many insects usually plentiful in tlie earlier part of the year, prepared 

 me for a liad year, and subsequent events fully bore out my forebodings. 

 In addition to being scarce, insects have been difficult to time, and I 

 have no doubt missed many owing to this, at the same time I have added 

 several new names to the list of insects taken round here. At the 

 beginning of June Asthena luteata, Eupisteria heparata and Hypnipetes 

 nnplm-iata were common in the alder swamps on the Chase, and I also 



