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THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



clump. They are not difficult to rear if a good depth of their native 

 sand, or something approximating to it, be provided, as they pupate deep 

 down. A proportion of them lie over to a second or even a third year; 

 this obviously helps the species to maintain itself in the event of larvae 

 being destroyed when the plants are cut down with the corn, as there 

 may be at the same time pupaj below ground from a previous season's 

 larvse. Furthermore, I have noticed that the plants frequently grow 

 beside the cart tracks and at the edges and corners of the fields, where 

 they escape the ravages of the reaper. Sisi/mbrium aophia is certainly 

 a local plant in the " breck " district and elsewhere, but Lithostege 

 griseata is still more local ; large patches of the plants occur without a 

 sign of the moth. I believe the larva is strictly confined to the one 

 food plant ; when specimens are found amongst the clovers and trefoils 

 they have doubtless been blown there by the breeze, which is so preva- 

 lent in the open " breck " country, and which, with their feeble flight, 

 they would be unable to withstand, I agree with your correspondent's 

 remarks as to the scarcity of Lit/iostei/e (/riseata, it seems to be one of 

 the rarest of the insects peculiar to the " breck," but I think Dian- 

 thoecia irregularis is probably even scarcer. However, larvte of the 

 latter may be found abundantly, when it is known where and how to 

 look for them. This insect again is much more local than its foodplant 

 — Silene otites. With reference to Agrophila trabealis {sulphtiralis), there 

 is certainly a partial second brood in August. I once found (h-ohena 

 {Pionea) extiinalis common in a clover field, and it was with consider 

 able interest that I subsequently took a specimen in Hampshire^the 

 only one I have seen elsewhere. No doubt the abundance of difierent 

 species varies according to the season here, as elsewhere. One year I 

 found large numbers of the pretty yellow-striped larvne of Antidea 

 siniiata feeding on the flowers of Galium verum in a locality where a 

 few years before hardly any could be found, and where a few seasons 

 later it seemed to be absent. Geologically, botauically and entomo- 

 logically this is one of the most interesting areas in the British Islands. 

 I am not aware that the geologists have entirely accounted for the 

 physical formation, but there seem to be indications of an ancient coast 

 line ; the fauna certainly has littoral affinities and may be an ancient 

 survival. Insect life is less abundant than in our southern counties, 

 but there are quite a number of forms peculiar to the region. Bird life 

 is noticeable in the abundance of Stone Curlews, and in the occurrence 

 of Ringed Plovers inland and away from water. — Herbert Ashby 

 (F.E.S.), Broadway House, Brookdale Road, Southampton. October 



nth. 



@^URRENT NOTES AND SHORT NOTICES. 



We should like to call the attention of our readers to the Annual 

 Exhibition of Varieties, etc., to be held by the South London Entomo- 

 logical Society, at their commodious rooms, Hibernia Chambers, 

 London Bridge, which takes place on November 28th, at 7.30. Visitors 

 are cordially welcomed and are invited to bring exhibits. 



The rich collection of Orthoptera made in past years at Geok- 

 Tapa, in the Transcaucasus, by that good all-round naturalist A. B. 

 Shelkovnikofif, is being determined by Professor Y, P. Shtchel- 

 kanovtsefif, of Warsaw University, who has already published two or 



