NOTES FROM THE NORTH-WEST COUNTIES. 315 



scoUiformis used to be taken, but something like thirty years 

 ago. The only insect I saw worth a special record was Euchlne 

 canlamines, which literally swarmed over the meadows in the 

 Vale. 



The first half of June was notorious in the Chester district 

 for a profusion of Vanessa cardui — certainly a remarkably late 

 month for a hybernated butterfly to appear ! The insect was 

 taken several times, even in our street gardens ; and I set a few 

 for the purpose of a comparison to which I will refer by-and-bye. 

 Lepidopterous larvae of most species have been abundant with 

 us this summer. In Delamere Forest the oaks were almost 

 defoliated, chiefly by the caterpillars of Tortrix viridana. I 

 would also specially include, from their abundance, those of 

 Cahjmnia trapezina. Two or three got accidentally into my 

 larva-boxes, and they devoured, to my chagrin, nearly every 

 other occupant. Larvce of Hylophila prasinana were also very 

 common. From last year's larvae, beaten in Delamere Forest, I 

 might incidentally say that I had, up to this date, the emergence 

 of Tephrosia hiundidaria , Hadena glauca, Acronycta Icporina, 

 Cymatophora duplaris, and many commoner species. 



A visit to Delamere Forest on June 23rd showed that, in 

 addition to Pieris hrassicce, P. napi, Comonympha pampliilus, 

 Polyomniatus phlceas and Lycana icarus, Thecla ruhi was also a 

 common insect, in fact, unusually so. Others, equally common, 

 were Bupalus piniaria, Ematurga atomaria, Lomaspilis marginata, 

 Cahera piisaria, Macaria liturata, Plypsipetes ruherata, Cidaria 

 corylata, Thera variata, but by no means so abundant as last 

 year. Old acquaintances like Aplecta nehulosa, Hepialus hectuSy 

 and H. velleda, seemed conspicuous by their absence ; while, on 

 the other hand, Panagria petraria, Euholia plumharia, and 

 Cymatopliora duplaris appeared like fresh discoveries. In com- 

 parison with last season, however, this fine hunting-ground 

 seemed deserted by the insect tribes. Ellopia prosapiaria I only 

 met with twice ; Eucosiiiia undulata and Geometra papilionaria 

 not at all : whilst the scanty occurrence of Anarta myrtilU, 

 Nemeopldla russida and Boarmia re2)andatavf£is delayed, doubtless 

 by the cold of June and the addition of rain in July, until the 

 middle of the last-named month. The tardy appearance of 

 Lyccena cegon and Drepana falcataria did not take place till then, 

 but was atoned for by the unusual abundance of both insects. 



