1S82.1 165 



Many other Lepidoptera must occur (some, indeed, have been recorded in other 

 publications), but the list of Butterflies and Sphingidce is probably tolerably com- 

 plete. And it is suggestive, inasmuch as many of the species must, of necessity, be 

 migrants. Zygana Minos in Heligoland appears almost incredible, and we might say 

 the same as regards Colias Palcsno. — Editoes. 



New food-plant for Bombyx quercus. — In the middle of May, observing a small 

 Portugal laurel to be much eaten I looked for the cause, and found a half-grown 

 larva of Bomhyx quercus on one of its branches. I conveyed it to the house and 

 supplied it with leaves of the same plant. I, after that, introduced it into its feed- 

 ing cage daily, together with sprigs of whitethorn ; but on every occasion have 

 found the laurel eaten in preference to the other plant. Latterly I supplied it with 

 nothing else and it continued healthy and grew well until the 22nd of June, when 

 it became full-fed, spun a cocoon, and changed to the chrysalis state. Thus it re- 

 mained until the 17th of August, when a fine male imago emerged. — Owen S. 

 Wilson, Carmarthen : November, 1882. 



Notes on the season in West Norfolk. — Like many others, I, too, complain of the 

 scarcity of Lepidoptera, and especially of Macro- Lepidoptera, this season. Several 

 species failed to put in an appearance at all, and others were not observed in their 

 usual numbers. From the very first this scarcity of Lepidoptera began to manifest 

 itself. Even the generally common Hibernia rupicapraria was quite a rarity, and 

 sallow-bloom seemed almost to have lost its attractive powers, so few were the insects 

 observed at it. As the summer advanced, more species were necessarily met with, 

 but many of them in very limited numbers ; the Eupithecice being especially scarce, 

 and generally late in their appearance. Eup. pygmceata I did not see at all, and 

 amongst the few Macros which have been as abundant as usual I note Coremia quadri- 

 fasciaria, which species seemed to be well distributed and moderately common on 

 tree-trunks in and near woods ; Melanippe unangulata and Macaria liturata have 

 been commoner than I have ever before observed them ; Larentia didymata was 

 everywhere a pest, and, in some places, L. pectinitaria was nearly as plentiful. 

 Sugar, although repeatedly tried, proved of little use ; even common Noctuce, such 

 as Noctua triangidum and N. brunnea, were only represented during the season by 

 shigle specimens, notwithstanding the abundance of larvae of these species in the 

 spring. A day on the coast in July resulted in my boxing three specimens only of 

 Anerastia Farrella, but, perhaps, I ought not to complain much of this, as the 

 weather was anything but favourable for coast work. Stathmopoda pedella turned 

 up in plenty among some old alders, but it was excessively local, being confined to 

 a few trees only. Of Tortrix Lafauryana I again secured a fine series, with some 

 curious varieties. Two specimens have the costal blotches united, so as to form one 

 long blotch on the costa. I also succeeded in breeding the species from larvae feed- 

 ing between united leaves and shoots of Myrica gale (bog myrtle). Two specimens 

 of Retinia turionana were dislodged from Scotch fir, and eventually boxed, also a 

 solitary specimen of Phlceodes Demarniana flying out of a birch tree met with a 

 similar fate. This specimen occurred some three or four miles from where the last 

 specimen was taken, so that I hope yet to find a spot in which it can be taken more 



