310 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



simply by going out into the highways and hedges and culling them 

 in by judicious working, and, moreover, the subject is so much wider 

 (I am speaking of British insects), and the scope for experiment so 

 very much greater, as to be extremely fascinating to those ambitious 

 enough to tread its varied pathway. 



Notes on the Rhopalocera of the Guildford district during the 



years 1896-7. 



By W. GKOVEK. 



The year 1896 was a somewhat abnormal one. In many localities 

 the season was (as had been anticipated from the mildness of the 

 winter) unusually forward ; but, in others, the reverse was the case, 

 the present district being numbered among the latter. Although the 

 winter here was one of almost unprecedented mildness — both frost 

 and snow being practically an unknown quantity — the spring species 

 were later than usual, and from three weeks to a month later than in 

 1898, although the conditions were of much the same character as 

 in that year. The long drought, which lasted practically from the 

 beginning of April to the beginning of August (when both it and the 

 sunnner came to a sudden termination), was, in many respects, very 

 similar to that of 1893, but in 1896 the weather broke up suddenly 

 in the first weeks of August, and after that, fine sunny days were very 

 rare indeed. This, no doubt, accounted for the failure of some of the 

 autumn species, more particularly the Vanessids, the almost total 

 absence of which was the more noticeable after the wonderful abund- 

 ance of so many other species during the long, dry summer. 



On the other hand, 1897 must be considered in many ways a 

 typical year, the winter being rather severe, compared with the 

 previous one, but remarkable more for excessive rainfall than cold ; 

 and the summer showing to perfection that wonderful mixture of 

 heat and coolness, sunshine and storm, which no other country in the 

 world can show in the same degree as our own islands. The climatic 

 conditions being so different, it is only to be expected that the lepidop- 

 terous fauna Avould show equal points of divergence, and the present 

 year will chiefly be remembered for a late spring, and an unusually 

 fine and sunny autumn, and also for the general scarcity of individuals 

 of many species. 



The district covered by this article is a strictly local one, being only 

 that portion included within a radius of four miles from the town. 



The geological formations of the district are both numerous and 

 interesting, for so small an area, as will be seen from the following 

 list, taking them in order from north to south : I. Lower Bagshot, 

 sand, with patches of gravel and peaty bog. II. London clay, with 

 extensive patches of Pleistocene sand and drift gravel ; these, in some 

 places, cover the clay to a depth of nearly fifty feet. III. Woolwich 

 and Reading beds ; these are only developed to a small extent. 

 IV. Chalk, with a capping of clay and gravel (high-level drift) in 

 many places. This formation occupies the central portion of the 

 district, the town itself being situated upon it. V. Upper greensand. 

 VI. Gault. The extent of both these is here very small. VII. Lower 

 greensand (Folkestone and Hythe beds). These are both developed 

 to a large extent, more particularly the Hythe beds. There is also a 



