116 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Hylopliila hicolorana, which I do not think is generally found so 

 far west ; and in September one specimens each of Cirrhoedia 

 xerampelina and Xanthia aurago. Toxocampa pastimun occurs in 

 abundance, and Plusia chrysitis, Smerinthus ocellatus, Sphinx 

 ligustrl, Cossus ligniperda, Hepialus Jiectus, Calligenia miata, Gal' 

 limorplia dominula, Psilura vionacha, Urapteryx samhucata, Eiiry- 

 mene dolobraria, Pericallia syringaria, Selene hiliinaria, S. tetralu- 

 naria, Crocallis elinguaria, Ennomos alniaria, E. quercinaj'ia, 

 Cleora liclienaria, Phorodesma pustulata, Geometra vernaria, Thera 

 simulata, Melanthia albicillata, Phihalapteryx tersata, Scotosia 

 rliamnata, Gidaria miata, Nonagria aj^undinis, Agivtis lucernea, 

 seem to occur not unfrequently, while the larva of Acronycta alni 

 was taken at Fonmon Castle, three miles from here, two years 

 ago. In conclusion, I may add my belief that we should all 

 become far better acquainted with the entomology of our 

 respective counties were local entomological societies formed as 

 suggested in your columns. — William E. R. Allen ; Porthkerry 

 Rectory, Cowbridge, Glamorgan. 



Scarcity of Insects in 1887. — I think I can confirm the 

 experience of Mr. William Powley (Entom. 19). In the summer 

 of 1887 I was at Bognor for some five weeks, and during my 

 whole stay there, notwithstanding I was entomologising on every 

 fine day, I saw but one specimen each of Vanessa cardui and 

 Golias edusa. At the end of September I was much surprised by 

 beating two or three specimens of Abraxas grossulariata. — R. C. 

 Cyrian ; 33, Douglas Road, N. 



Pupa-digging. — This district is almost devoid of trees, and 

 entomologists have tramped miles on a pupa-digging excursion 

 and spent the day with poor success, sometimes only bring- 

 ing home about half a dozen pupse, after digging round as many 

 as fifty or sixty trees. Some time ago I came to the conclusion 

 that not a tenth part of the arboreal feeders pupate under the 

 trees, or we should find more pupte than we do. Again, seeing 

 tlie very great numbers of moths whose larvse are ground-feeders, 

 it has often been a puzzle to me how to find the pupae. Early in 

 December of last year it occurred to me to try a rough piece of 

 ground near my house, covered in summer with dock, knot- 

 grass, ragwort, and various kinds of weeds, and having provided 

 myself with a hook, with two prongs fastened to the end of a 

 strong walking-stick, I proceeded to rake over the ground, T he 



