274 THE kntojiologist's record. 



Deiojieia jmlchdla, Plmia f/u)iniia, etc., there is sufficient evidence to show 

 that certain sedentary species have fluctuating periods of scarcity and 

 aliundance. Mr. Adkin {Kntoin., xxx., pp. 232-283) gives an example 

 of this in CLmocampa castrensis, which, in some seasons, is compara- 

 tively rare, and in others occurs in the greatest profusion, and yet, on 

 the whole, is probably as abundant now as it ever has been in this 

 country. He further gives another example in Porthesia chri/sorrlioca, 

 which, after appearing in the greatest abundance for some years, 

 1871-1875, in various parts of Kent, became so rare that for 20 years 

 a few single imagines comprise the sole records for the county. Now, 

 after such a long disappearance, Mr. J. J. Walker records the webs of 

 the gregarious larvfE as not uncommon in one of its old haunts near 

 Sheerness. 



It is quite evident that such insects as these fluctuate in this way, 

 quite independently of any influence that tbe collector of Lepidoptera 

 exerts, and that such species have not suffered, and do not suffer, 

 from the depredations of collectors, as have T.ycaena avion, Mditaca 

 ciu.ria, M. athalia, Apatura iiix, Xala dlhulalis, etc., in certain localities. 

 It is well known that vast numbers of certain species— Dnjci)^ paplna, 

 lAhicnitis sibtjlla, Catocala iiroiiium, C. sjwusa, in the New Forest ; 

 Phoro<les)iia mnaragdaria, on the Essex coast ; Epione paralldaria 

 (^n'spertarui), at Askham Bog ; Scfiia virnjmliformu, at Folkestone — 

 are taken l)y a certain small bevy of professional and so-called 

 amateur collectors, and, however much one may deplore this fact, it 

 cannot be contended that these species show, taking one year witb 

 another, any very great diminution in number in these localities, nor 

 can it be urged that these species require protection "to save them 

 from extermination." It is different, however, in some of the restricted 

 haunts of certain of these species elsewhere, c.//., in our south-eastern 

 counties, where IK pajthia and L. sihi/lla have been practically exter- 

 minated. Scarcely any of the woods in I^iSsex, Kent, Surrey, ]\Iiddle- 

 sex and Sussex, that used to produce these insects in abundance, do so 

 now. Comment is superfluous. 



Similarly, such species as Leucophana sinajiis, Pa/u'lio inachan)!, 

 Carterocephalus palacmnn, Thymelicxs (ictacon, T. lineola, 'I'/iccla pruni, 

 T. iv-albxmi, Zej)/iijrus betulae, etc., wliich are captured to a specimen, 

 so far as possible, for exchange and sale ]iurposes, show no very decided 

 falling off in numbers, that can be directly referred to as a result 

 of the persecution, except in certain localities. In these latter localities, 

 it appears necessary that the species should be protected, if they are 

 to be saved from extermination, ejj., Lcucopliaxia sinapis undoubtedly 

 wants protecting in south and south-eastern Britain, yet there is not 

 the sliglitest necessity for its protection in the western parts of the 

 British Islands. 



Incidentally one may note that the almost total disappearance of 

 Pohpinnia c-allnim from Kent, in which county it was once very 

 abundant, is certainly not due to collectors, and is possibly due to 

 altered agricultural conditions. The disappearance of Kola centoiudis 

 from Deal was due to a philanthropist, who cleared the ground for 

 tents, in which London's waifs and strays were housed during the 

 summer months. The 'jround on which Ac'ulalia ochrata abounded at 

 Sandwicii was levelled ior golf, and the species practically extermi- 

 nated there. 



