CURRENT NOTES. 177 



father, who was well acquainted with Ha worth, Curtis, Leach and 

 other entomologists of former years " and, in spite of all the recent 

 information on the subject, further wi-ites : — " When moths have been 

 on the wing for some time, they fade and become paler than fresh 

 specimens ; hence, in olden times, they were often described as distinct 

 species.'" Now we would ask Mr. Dale a question. If those " entomo- 

 logists of former years " whom his father knew, " often described in 

 olden times " faded moths that had " become paler than fresh specimens 

 as distinct species," what entomological " advantage " has the present 

 Mr. Dale over Mr. Tutt, because " his father was well acquainted " with 

 a number of men who did such ridiculously stujnd things ? Not that 

 we consider that these authors did the stupid things Avhich Mr. Dale lays 

 at the door of his father's friends, any more than we consider that Mr. 

 Dale knows anything about the subject Avhich he discusses (?) so glibly. 

 This is nearly as good as the Dale theory of the formation of varieties 

 by moonlight and caudle-light ! We have heard that editors keep a 

 waste-paper basket ! ! And this, my masters, is the science of one of 

 our would-be teachers I 



We have before called attention to the strange freaks of certain 

 people of Wicken, who anxiously look out for the arrival of the inno- 

 cent entomologist, visiting the weird Fens for the first time. The 

 following is a verbatim copy of some writing on a slip of tea (?) paper 

 addressed to : — 



" Mess. Hodges & Another 

 Maids Head 

 Inn 



Wicken. 

 Messrs. Hodge & another 



Gentmu 



^Ijt €\jtstmts 



Public Notice any person or persons found 

 trespassing on Lands of Messrs I. A & R Aspland 

 and N Fuller in Wicken Fen Avell be prosecuted 



Tickets to Entomologists are issued for going on the above Lands the 

 charge per day being 6d each person, they can be obtained at the Post 

 Office Wicken. Mr. I A Aspland has not given permission to any 

 one to go in the Fen " 



Now a " Public Notice " on a slip of tea-paper, addressed to " Mess. 

 Hodges and another " is good I Considering that the " droves " in the 

 Fen are public property, and that these are the best collecting grounds ; 

 that Mr. Isaac Aspland, the chief owner, had previously given " Mess. 

 Hodges & another " permission to go on his part of the ground ; and 

 that one of our l)est-known lepidopterists, Mr. Moberly, recently bouglit 

 a piece of the Fen to which they had access ; we do not know what 

 term is strictly applicaljle to the writer of the above " Public Notice 1 " 

 nor to the person who affixed to such a " Notice " the official staiu]) of 

 the Post Office of the district ! 



Mr. H. Swale, M.B., records (E.M.M.) that he found whilst examin- 

 ing a bakehouse at Tavistock, a large nuuibcr of an earwig [Au/.'jol<iliis 



