iJOTteS O^ COLLteC*lNG, feTt). 166 



naria are also scarce, as are those of Boarmia roboraria. The exceptions 

 to this rule of scarcity in larvse seem to be B. abtetaria, and in imagines, 



Asphalia ridens"- The Eev. C. R. N. Burrows (Rainham, Essex), 



reports on May 3rcl, that Suiermthus tilue was captured on May 1st, 

 Ligdia adnstata on April 25th, Cidaria suffumata and Alencis ptctaria on 



April 11th. Mr. Mason (Clevedon), on April 12th, reports: — " The 



emci-gence of T. viunda and T. ptdverulcnta in my breeding cage during 

 the first week of March, the continued mild weather and the absence 

 of sallow bloom, induced me to try sugar. The evening of the 8th was 

 gusty, with south-west wind, and rain at intervals ; but not to be dis- 

 appointed, just before dusk, a line of trees just inside a large wood was 

 sugared, and about 7 o'clock I sallied forth. As I turned my lantern on the 

 first patch of sugar, I saw that moths were literally in dozens. Taeniocampa 

 munda, T. pulverulenta, T. gothica, T. stabilis, T. instabUis, Orrhodia Itgula, 

 0. vaccinii, Scopelosoma satellitia and one fine specimen of Dasycampa 

 rubiginea, perhaps a shade lighter than specimens taken last November, 

 but otherwise, in excellent condition ; T. munda was in splendid condition 

 and endless variety, some specimens being beautifully banded, others of 

 a dark reddish-brown colour. This first patch was but a sample of all 

 the other patches, except that I got no more jD. rubiginea on this evening. 

 The next evening another Z). rubiginea txnd S. satellitia were the only species 

 seen, as there was the suspicion of a frost. The following evening was 

 dull and warm, and insects were even more numerous, than on the first 

 night ; Calocampa exoleta, B. meticidosa, and A', ornithopus coming, in 

 addition to the species seen the first evening, whilst two more D. rubi- 

 ginea were captured, with specimens of 0. ligula var. subnigra. The 

 D. rubiginea were all males, and I had never yet before seen var. subnigra 

 after hybernation. The following evenings were wet, and the sallows 

 were coming into flower, so I gave up sugaring for a time, although on 

 a subsequent evening 1 took another £>. rubiginea, missing a second on 

 the same evening, whilst yet another fell to my share from the sallows, 

 late in March, and a friend took another. I find larvfe both late and 

 scarce ; Tephrosia crepuscnlaria, too, has been very rare this spring." 



Mr. E. A. Atmore (Kings Lynn), on April 17th, records that: — 



•' Micros are coming on apace. I have already taken several species of 

 Lithocolletis and Nepticula, Adela cuprella, Perittia obscurepunctella, 

 Steganoptycha pygnueana, Heusiniene jimbriana, and the early species of 

 Micropteryx — semipurpurella, purpurella, unimaculella and stdtpurpurella." 



Mr. Finlay (Morpeth), writes on April 24th : — " During the time 



that the sallows were in blossom I only had one good night, when I 

 captured several P. piuiperda, T. opima, T. popnleti, T. gothica, T. 

 instabilis, P. rnbricosa, whilst T. stabilis were very plentiful and T. 

 pulverulenta a nuisance." 



Whitsuntide on the Cotswolus. — A small party of members of 

 the Birmingham Entomological Society spent May 12th to loth in the 

 neighbourhood of Selsley. The weather was not all that could be 

 desired, and as a consequence the captures did not come up to expecta- 

 tion. Larva3 of Nudaria mundana, Callimorpha dominula, Nemeophila 

 plantaginis, &c. were obtained and imagines of Nemeobim lucina, etc. 

 The hymenopterists were well satisfied with their cajjtures, and the 

 dipterists rejoiced in adding two new species of Syrj^hns to the British 

 list, Mr. li. 0. Bradley taking a specimen of Syrphns triangulifer, Zett. 

 and myself one of S. annuUpcs, Zett. — Colbban J. Wainwkight, 

 Birmingham. 



