CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 143; 



obtained. Vanessa polychloros, from March 14th to April 16th, was very 

 abundant; and later the larvae were in clusters upon almost every sallow in 

 the forest. Gonoptenjx rhamni, common in February ; on the 17th I 

 saw eight together, both sexes being represented. Vanessa iirticcB, at the 

 same time, but scarcer later on. Colias edusa was scarce during early 

 September. Argynnis euphrosyne appeared on April 27th, and later was 

 very abundant; whilst A. selene was scarce. Synchthus alveolus, common. 

 The spring brood of Pararye eyeria was quite a week later than usual ; I 

 did not observe it until April 1st. Every autumn I breed a number of this 

 species from ova, the imagines emerging during the winter and spring; but 

 strangely these invariably produce the summer (dark) form. I suppose this 

 is caused by being reared in a high temperature, i. e., upon a shelf in my 

 dining-room. The form I take at large in the spring has the light spots much 

 enlarged, especially those surrounding the eye-spots upon the primaries. 



The Heterocera, like the Rhopalocera, were very early upon the wing 

 during the season of 1893, and general collecting commenced from the 

 second week in March, but many species usually common were extremely 

 scarce, of course with an occasional exception. I planted a large bed of 

 Nicotiana affinis in anticipation of obtaining Sphinx convolvuli, but was 

 sadly disappointed, as I only saw two or three ; this species seems to be 

 gradually getting scarce, very few records have been made of its capture for 

 the last two seasons. I found a few larvae of CJuerocampa elpenor feeding 

 upon willow-herb. The larvae of Smerinthus ocellatus were plentiful upon 

 sallows; also Dicrayiura vinula. Macroylossa steUatanim (two broods) was 

 very abundant, especially in the autumn; I obtained several specimens 

 in-doors flying against the window ; they were all females, and doubtless 

 were seeking a place for hybernating. Hemaris bombyliformis was also very 

 common feeding upon blue-bells ; and H. fuciformis more so than usual 

 upon violets and primroses. From an old sallow stump I chiselled out 

 from sixty to seventy pupae of Trocliilium bembeciformis, and there are many 

 small larvae still there. Sesia asiliformis larvae and pupae are to be found 

 in oak stumps plentifully in the forest about April. I got a larva of Zeuzera 

 ascuU from a twig of holly. Larvae of Cossus liyniperda are playing havoc 

 with the elms around here ; I worked one tree and took many larvae in their 

 second year's growth, but the formic acid was almost unbearable, it nearly 

 overpowered me, although Vanessa atalanta seemed to revel in it. Drepana 

 cultraria was frequently seen among the beeches, but difficult to get; they 

 rise from the shrubs and soar to the tree tops. Sarothripa revayana was 

 scarce ; Earias chlorana and Chleophora (HylopJiila) bicolorana, fairly 

 plentiful. Amongst rushes in the meadows I found a colony of Nudaria 

 senex, at dusk, and took them freely ; the males were pale yellowish brown, 

 and the females slaty brown in colour. Calligenia miniata and Lithosia 

 riibricollis were met with occasionally; but L. griseola, one specimen only. 

 Ernijdia cribrum was fairly abundant the last week in May, and very 

 dark ; Mr. Taylor, of Bournemouth, discovered this species in abundance 

 near that town, but quite a month later than I got it here. Demas coryli, 

 from beech trunks, from April 17th, at Ridley wood. Bombyx rubi was 

 very common, and upon the wing for a long time. Euchelia jacobcBCB, I 

 have never seen the larvae of this species so plentiful before ; the ragwort 

 was eaten in shreds almost everywhere around here. Callbnorpha domi- 

 nula, Euthemonia russida, Chelonia villica, fairly common. Hepialus 

 hiimuli was double-brooded ; I took a few on Sept. 26th, and saw some 



m2 



