WICKEN KE-\^SITED. THE LEPIDOPTERA OF WICKEN FEN, ETC. 299 



Aphomia sociella from time -to time. Plumes of all sorts were scarce, 

 even Alucita pentad actyla, whilst a few each of Adkinia bipimctidacti/la, 

 Eiinnelina inonodacti/la, and Oidaeiiiatophoriis litJiodactj/la comprised 

 the sum total in this group. All four species of Hydrocampids occurred 

 sparingly, and, of course, some Xascia cilialis, but, as before stated, fewer 

 than usual. Scoporia pallida is the great Pyralid of the fen, and occurs 

 exactly under the same conditions as Xudaria sene.v and nearly in the 

 same numbers. Other Pyrales were Bottjs fitscalis:, common in the fen, 

 but commoner at Chippenham, where Ehidea crovealis also abounded. 

 Pyralis farinalis swarmed in Mr. Bullman's barns and stables, P. costalia 

 and AglonHa pingainalis also, but unfortunately no A. caprealis, 

 although during the wet week I had plenty of tune to search for them. 

 The more open part of the farmyard produced a fine crop of thistles, 

 and here, by day, the children commenced their entomological education ; 

 for common Vanessids and Pierids, Gonepteryx rharuni, Kpineplwle 

 ianira, etc., abounded and proved a source of great delight. Except 

 when Mr. Houghton was down there, and until Mr. Galpin made a 

 welcome addition to our party, we had the entire fen to ourselves. On 

 the night of Mr. Galpin's arrival, Mr. Bailey managed to get down, 

 and with his presence and a row of lamps, it seemed like old days 

 again. We left with many regrets, and already I think longingly of 

 the weird fen with its lamps, sheet, and buzzing moths. The 

 charms of the place have also appealed to my wife and her friend, 

 so it will not be many years before we return — next time, I 

 hope, at the Hijdrilla palnstris time, and in a paliistn'>i year. 

 I have looked up the following references to Wicken collecting which 

 have appeared from time to time in the Ent. Record since its com- 

 mencement. They will doubtless be a useful guide to any of our 

 younger collectors visiting the locality. The fact that no collecting 

 notes have appeared since vol. xii. (1900), led me to write the foregoing 

 article, but, in the " nineties," many references occur. Of other 

 lepidopterological notes, referring more or less to the same time of 

 the year as mine, the most exhaustive are our Editor's OAvn papers in 

 vol. ii., pp. 176 et seq., and the still fuller one in vol. iii., pp. 196 and 

 229. These cover late July and early August and embrace both 

 Macros and Micros most fully. Other references to the same season 

 may be found in vol. iv., p. 284 (Moberly) ; vol. iv., p. 280 (Bouskell) ; 

 vol. xii., p. 51 (Butterfield), vol. xii., p. 104 (.James). Notes for other 

 months are as follows : — May — vol. iii., p. 156 (Farren) ; vol. iv., p. 176 

 (H. A. Hill). June—wo\. iv., p. 181 (Hodges) ; vol. iv., p. 208 (Hill) ; 

 vol. iv., p. 209 (Porritt) ; vol. v., p. 180 (Hodges) ; vol. vii., p. 44 

 (Moberly) ; vol. x., p. 310 (Studd) ; vol. xii., p. 234 (Kaye). AityHst — 

 vol. vii., p. 65 (Brady) ; late August, vol, xii., p. 314 (Kaye) ; and vol. 

 xii., p. 335 (Hill). Sioniiier yenerally — vol. iv., p. 253 ; vol. v., p. 302 ; 

 vol. vii., p. 90 ; vol. ix., p. 296 (all Moberly). The periodical captures of 

 Hydrilla palustris are referred to in vol. v., p. 180 (Hodges) ; vol. ix., 

 p.' 296 (Moberly) ; vol. x., p. 232 (Studd) ; and in vol. xi., p. 113, Mr. 

 Farren gives a full account of the captures of this species in the great 

 1898 year with description of its variation. A great night in May, 

 1892, is described by Mr. Farren in vol. iii., p. 156, whilst in a note 

 (vol. xiv., p. 284) the Rev. C. R. N. Burrows impresses upon the 

 collector to " never visit Wicken without Avaders " — a useful hint, but 

 one teeming with awful suggestiveness, especially as the accompanying 



