NOTES AND OBSEKVATIONS. 



1^5 



thera biennis, L., Echiiim vuJgare, L., Ballota nigra, L., Nepeta glechoma, 

 Bentb., Krythrcea centaureum, L., Sijrivga vulgaris, L., and Onopordum 

 acanthium, L. Reference is made to the rapidity with which the 

 Sphingidfe perform their work as fertihsers, and it is stated that most 

 nocturnal flowers have adapted themselves specially to those Lepi- 

 doptera. The first place, as fertilisers generally, is given to bees, the 

 Lepidoptera taking only the second or third place, before or after. 

 It is, perhaps, needless to refer to the many other interesting facts and 

 conclusions given in the above work. — George W. Oldfield; 2, Long- 

 ridge Road, Earl's Court, S.W., February 12th, 1894. 



Early Morning Appearance of Butterflies. — I think it would be 

 interesting if someone would undertake the compilation of a list of 

 British Rhopalocera, sliowiug the earliest, latest, and average hours 

 during the day when the species are on the wing. On Aug. 18th, 

 1893, at 6.15 a.m., I observed quite a number of Polyommatus pJilaas 

 flying about, there being fully two dozen of this species on one flower- 

 bed. The weather at the time was intensely hot and dry, the mean 

 temperature being then 72°, and an exceptionally low humidity pre- 

 vailed. Perhaps others can show an earlier time of flight. — F. W. 

 Freir; Elm House, Walthamstow, Jan. 22nd, 1894. 



Aplasta ononaria in the Burney Collection. — From your notice 

 it appears that four specimens of the above were ticketed as having 

 been take by my friend Bernard Pifi'ard. Allow me to say that that 

 gentleman never captured but owe, which was duly recorded in the 

 E. M. M., vol. iii., p. 110, and which he generously gave to his great 

 friend the late Henry Doubleday, m whose cabinet it, no doubt, still 

 remains, unless that fine collection has become scattered. — H. G. 

 Knaggs ; Camden Road, London, N.W., March 5th, 1894. 



Lyc^na argiolus. — During last season the great abundance of L. 

 argiolus in East Devon, especially in districts near the sea-border, is 

 quite worthy of record. It would be interesting to hear whether this 

 species was as common elsewhere in the south, or did it, like Colias 

 edusa, only abound in this locality last year ? I have repeatedly 

 noticed that L. argiolus is usually plentiful after the Ilex aqui folium has 

 been profuse in its berries the winter preceding. Can any reason be 

 suggested for this coincidence ? — B. !Stafford Chope. 



CoLiAs EDUSA VAR. HELiCE, AND C. HYALE. — I thiuk It may be of 

 interest to record the exceptional abundance of this species in East 

 Devon, from the end of July to the middle of Sept., 1893. In one 

 field of Trifulium repens, durmg the latter part of August, I captured 

 as many as I cared to take away (amongst them some fine females), 

 and could have taken scores more in the same field when the crop was 

 being cut a week later. The var. helice was captured in a rough field 

 at the end of May in the same locality, though only three specimens of 

 C. hyale were seen during the season. With reference to Mr. Clarke's 

 remarks, bearing out Mr. Bankes' statement that C. hyale seldom 

 ranges so far west as Dorchester and Weymouth, I am unable to 

 confirm the experience, for durmg the last ten years or more 1 have 

 repeatedly captured it at intervals all along the S. Devon coast, and at 



