136 THE entomologist's record. 



Litliosiids also producing 16s., 16s., 18s., 32s. 6d., and 10s. for 

 successive small lots. The Arctia caia were not remarkable products 

 (viewed from the pigeon fancier's view, which appears to be the 

 only view we can take of entomological " tigers " and " gooseberry 

 moths," for, no one as yet has shown us a single scientific fact 

 about them) and varieties with yellow hind wings evidently have 

 no great market value; 42s., 40s., 4:2s., 21s. were paid for four, 

 four, three and two " Tiger " vars. respectively. 40s. was obtained 

 for nine specimens of the " old fen form " of Ocneria dispar, including 

 a black var., whilst Laelia coenosa went in pairs for 35s., 

 37s. 6d., 27s. 6d., 40s., and 42s. respectively. Seven Bombyx 

 trifolii vars. produced £3 10s., and Lasiocampa Uicifolia went in 

 pairs at 45s., 85s., 60s., 60s., respectively. Either this insect is 

 or is not British. There is no doubt a general opinion among 

 collectors that it used to be obtained in some numbers on 

 Cannock Chase, but the few records in our old magazines and the 

 fact that no name of authority was ever attached to such records, 

 make one wonder how the dozens (perhaps scores would be nearer the 

 mark) of specimens extant in good collections of British Lepidoj^tera 

 ever got a Britisli warranty. These eight were reputed as taken " at 

 Cannock Chase, whence they were sent to Mr. Machin by Mr. Bonny." 

 Cannock Chase is well worked now. Are our present collectors so 

 incapable that they cannot even find a single specimen ? Drepana 

 harpagida (sieula) was also sold in pairs, 18s., 22s., 24s., 32s. 6d., 22s. 

 being the prices obtained. In the same way pairs of Dicranura hicuspis 

 went for 22s., 30s. and 27s. 6d. It appears to be high time for the 

 dealers to go to Kannoch again, when 30s. is given for eight specimens 

 of Aster oscopus ntihectdosa and six A. sjjJiinx. No wonder a smile 

 illumines the faces of almost every one as if by mutual consent when 

 18s. and 16s. are given for two lots because they contain five "bred 

 specimens" of Pygaera anacJi oreta " irom. Dr. Knaggs." Surely it is 

 utter nonsense to look on this as a British species ; however, each one 

 knows his own business best. One would suppose that Notodonta 

 trimacula and N. chaonia are two of the best of our Notodonts whilst 

 N. trepida would not be taken at a gift. Probably nothing has altered 

 so much as the price given for Noctu.^ since their variation has been 

 so much studied, and it will be a matter of interest some day when a 

 collection of Nocture comes under the hammer, classified according to 

 their varietal peculiarities. Collectors are just learning that the study of 

 these varieties and the affixing of locality labels mean money, and that 

 a comparatively few hours' labour occasionally in properly arranging 

 these insects under their proper forms and adding locality labels, may 

 mean a difference of a hundred pounds or even more in the value of 

 of a small collection. When collectors learn that this is what the more 

 scientific buyers want, they will do it. Two lots with four Ct/matophora 

 fltictnosa in each of them went for 30s. and 32s. 6d. respectively ; 35s. 

 was given for nine Acronycta strigosa, seven A. alni, and eight A. 

 ligustri ; 21s. for seven Kentish A. uuricoma ; 40s. for a pair of Leucania 

 albrpuncta : whilst 21s. for five L. obsoleta makes one pause. Of course 

 Messrs. Fenn, Farn, Tutt or any of the regular collectors over the North 

 Kent district could get it ; but they have not the energy of a quarter of a 

 century ago, and a night in the marshes between Gravesend and Cliffe, 

 where this species and Sentaulvae simply swarm, would be less to their 



