1884.] 135 



V. Atalanta has appeared occasionally and singly here and there this summer 

 as cardui did last year, and I should predict a similar abundance of it, therefore, 

 next year, if the weather be propitious. 



My observations, therefore, lead me to the conclusion that climatic influences 

 rather than immigration account for these phenomena. As to Colias JEdusa (C. 

 Hyale is not, I think, found in Ireland) I have not seen or heard of its occurrence 

 for some years in any abundance, and I have met with none this summer. 



Will the Editors kindly state if the swarm of caterpillars which visited the 

 Rhondda Valley were those of Chcereas graminis* as, from the description of their 

 life history quoted from a local savant, not much could be gathered. — W. F. de V 

 Kane, Kingstown : Octoher IQth, 1884. 



Nonagria sparganii, Esp., at Deal. — Amongst some moths captured for me at 

 Deal by my mother at the beginning of September, there was a species of Nonagria 

 unknown to me at the time, but which I have Just found, on comparison with the 

 European Collection at the British Museum, to be iV. sparganii. The specimen 

 was nettted when on the wing at dusk in the garden of a house in Park Street. 

 This insect, although common on the Continent, has only recently been discovered 

 in this country by Mr. Sydney Webb. — E,. Mel^ola, 21, John Street, Bedford Row, 

 W.C. : Octoher \^th, 1884. 



Laphygma exigua at PenihroJce. — On the 19th September a kind friend at 

 Pembroke drove us over for a " last fond lingering look " at one of our favourite 

 resorts ; a lovely bay in a wild stretch of rocky coas' facing the Atlantic and backed 

 by extensive sand warrens. After securing the horse at the nearest available spot, 

 we were walking over the warren towards the shore, when from our very feet sprang 

 up a moth, which, from its aspiring flight and whitish hind-wings, was instantly 

 iistinguished from the hosts of Stenopteryx hyhridalis around us. It pitched down 

 igain at once into the very short grass, head downwards, actually resting on the 

 jrass with its head on the ground as though striving to burrow. In this position it 

 vas instantly recognisable as a lovely specimen of Laphygma exigua ; but, before I 

 ould box it, it sprang up into the air perpendicularly as before and again plunged 

 llown, this time into a tuft of Ammophila, where, by good fortune, I was able to 

 .ecure it. The sun was shining brightly at the time, and Lyccena Agestis, Scapula 

 krrugalis, and St. hyhridalis were very lively, but no other specimen of L. exigua 

 I'^iould be disturbed. — Chas. G-. Baeeett, 68, Camberwell Grove, S.E. : Octoher 

 0th, 1884. 



Acronycta alni at Wishech. — A fine larva of this species, which appears to be 

 i58s rare in Norfolk than elsewhere, was found at Castle Rising at the end of August, 

 eding on a standard rose. — A. Balding, Wisbech : Octoher, 1884. 



Variahility of Tortrix Lafauryana. — On looking for this species in the locality 



oil 1^1 * jijo precise information came to hand ; but it is believed the species was Heliophobus popv. 

 ris.— Eds. 



