128 THE entomologist's record. 



ah'eacly that we may have to add Cidaria sagittata to the' same black 

 list, although hope still lingers on and the pretty larva is searched for, 

 season after season, with perseverance by amateitr and dealer alike, 

 upon its common food-plant, the meadow-rue (Thalictrum flavum), which 

 is so abundant throughout the Fen. 



In tliis connection, a fertile subject for discussion may be found in 

 the gradually increasing rarity of some species of our Macro-lepidoptera, 

 e.g. Porthesia chrysorrhoea, whicli within very recent years was generally 

 recorded, but has been of late increasingly difficult to obtain, although 

 occurring within the strictly Metropolitan area (vide, Ent, Bee, Vol. I., 

 p. 349, Vol. II., p. 140, etc.) and the series in many cabinets are either 

 of a more or less ancient api^earance or very incomplete. The some- 

 what allied species, Ocneria disjjar is, of course, too well-known an 

 instance of this to need comment, and the series of all of the younger 

 collectors of the day are filled with in-bred specimens, which differ 

 widely in appearance from the genuine old captured examples. The 

 gradual extinction of these si^ecies of Liparidae, as with L. coenosa 

 referred to above, bears quite a different aspect from the prosjiective 

 destruction of other miscellaneous species through over-collecting to 

 the point of extermination, by dealers and others, of which a case in 

 point is the jiretty little Nola albtdah's of Chattenden fame, and were it 

 not that the Folkestone local Chortodes bondii has been discovered in 

 other spots along our Southern coast, towards Dorsetshire, it is to be 

 feJired that the day is not far distant when this species would have 

 ceased to claim its place in our lists. 



Let us turn from these forebodings to the more congenial anticipa- 

 tions of the season which is so rapidly oi^ening, and do not let us forget 

 that " records " for early api^earance of many of our May and June 

 species are being broken season after season, a result possibly due to 

 more energetic and scientific observation, as well as to the grand 

 seasons with which we are being favoured. Now is the time for the 

 le2)idopterist whilst held back from the active pursuit of his favourite 

 hobby by those numerous ties and duties (which doubtless act as a most 

 viseful curb to the too great devotion of many of us), to cherish that 

 dormant enthusiasm which will surge within until oitportunity gives 

 the signal for the incei^tion of some arduous expedition to more or less 

 distant and inaccessible sj^ots, where can be accomjilished the wild 

 desire, " To scorn delights and live laborious days." Had Milton ever 

 foreseen the devoted perseverance of the average collector, he would 

 surely have immortalized Lycidas with a lamp and net and for " days " 

 have substituted " nights," but we will forbear, and for a few moments 

 will endeavour to picture the keen delights of a " go^d night " in early 

 summer on the Fens. 



The setting sun is fast disappearing behind a bank of clouds, which 

 impelled slowly upwards by the gentle westerly breeze, meeting us as 

 we leave the village to wend our way laden Avith the implements for 

 our night's work, gradually overspread the whole sky and confirm our 

 anticipations of that dark warm night in which Fen-Avorkers so delight. 

 As we hasten down the " drove " to our favourite spot we exchange the 

 cheeriest of greetings with a brother of the net, who has already begun 

 work and reports that the early flying Geometers are flitting around 

 the stunted bushes in plenty, and we net short series of Lobophora 

 sexalisata and Epione apiciaria before the rapidly increasing twilight 



