248 THE entomologist's record. 



of others. — F. Fountain, 191, Darwin Street, Birmingham. Auqust 

 Mth, 1912. 



Seasonal Notes, 1912. — I don't know how other collectors fared 

 at the sallows this year, but on the two occasions when I visited 

 them at Woldingham I found insects scarce. My first evening, on 

 March 16th, seemed in every way a suitable one, warm and moist, but 

 only a few Taeniocampa stabilis, T. incerta and T. (jothica put in an 

 appearance. My second venture, on March 30th, a very cold bright 

 night, resulted in two T. niacilis being taken in good condition, the 

 only other species seen being T. r/otliica, worn. A visit to Tilgate 

 Forest, on April 6th, a fine bright day, found Brephos parthenias on 

 the wing in fair condition, and a couple of Vanessa io were observed. 

 Although the tree trunks and fences were well scrutinized not a.n 

 insect was seen at rest. Easter Monday, April 8th, was a bleak day 

 but a walk from Walton Heath to Dorking was taken, cia Headley 

 and Ranmore Common ; although many likely spots were searched 

 for Arctia caja and other larvre, none were met with, nor was any 

 insect observed at rest throughout the whole walk. The same state of 

 affairs prevailed on the following day during a walk across country 

 from Caterham to Oxted. The hot summer of 1911 must have had 

 an adverse effect on A. caja : perhaps a second brood was attempted 

 with fatal results. I usually come across a fair number of the larvae 

 every spring, this year I saw one only. A trip to Wiltshire on April 

 18th, for Melitaea anrinia, was quite successful and a nice series was bred 

 from the larvae obtained. On April 28th, a day's run was made to the 

 New Forest for Boarmia cinctaria and from captured females a good 

 supply of ova was obtained. Sleeved out on sallow the larvae seemed 

 to do remarkably well. Limenitis sibijlla larvffi were also taken, but 

 the particular spot searched had been, I should imagine, well over- 

 looked previously. On May 14th a few Scodonia hehiiaria were 

 captured at Oxshott ; more would have been got but for my lamp 

 proving fractious. At dusk a female Cidaria silaceata was taken, and 

 from ova obtained a few fine imagines were bred. Ova of Euchlo'e 

 cardaniines were fairly common in the lanes round Purley during May, 

 but comparatively few of the larvae were got into pupfe, owing, I 

 consider, to their cannibalistic habits in their earlier stages. On 

 Whit Monday (May 27th) a visit was paid to Abbot's wood, where 

 Brenthis sdene, Adscita statices, and Tanagra atrata {cliaerophijllata) 

 were taken in good condition, and larvae of Bitln/s (Zephi/nts) (jucrcm 

 beaten. On June 1st I attended the South London field meeting at 

 Brentwood, and although not successful in obtaining one of the three 

 Notol<)])Iuis (/ondstiiinia larvae that were beaten, I was fortunate in 

 securing at dusk two Erastria renitstida, one in fine condition. During 

 June I succeeded in breeding a fine series of JSlelitaea cinxia from 

 larvae obtained the previous July. At the time when the larvae were 

 feeding there was plenty of sunshine, and full advantage was taken of 

 this. At the end of June a three days' trip was made to Witherslack, 

 a locality I had long wished to visit. On the mosses Coenoni/mpha 

 dams {tijphon) was well in evidence, but going over ; by selection a 

 short but fairly satisfactory series was taken. Other species seen or 

 taken on the mosses were hiacrisia sa)W), (PJutliononia riissida) just out, 

 Lasiacaiiipa (jiierciis, Hijria iniiricata {auroraria), Acidalia fioiiata, 

 Fidonia atomana and Aspilates strigillaria. In the meadows Arieia 



