NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 67 



bitter north-east wind was blowing, and light powdery snow was 

 falling at the time. April 12th, some ova of P. cassinea began to 

 hatch, and on the 19th hive bees were noticed for the first time 

 amongst the flowei's. T. instahiUs emerged the same day from pupa 

 kept exposed to the weather. On April 22nd a swallow was seen and 

 the cuckoo heard for the first time ; E. versicolor ova commenced to 

 liatch. Either P. rapa or P. najyi was seen for the first time on 

 .April 29th, together with A. urticce ; many bats were seen in the 

 evening, a pair of Noctules hawking high up being especially notice- 

 able. The first C. argiolus seen was on May 1st, the humble bees 

 being very busy amongst the goosebeiTj^ bloom on this day ; P. ter- 

 realis larvae had commenced to pupate, and ova of Z. quercus to 

 liatch, together with Z. hetuhp, B. liispidaria, and P. nuheculosa, all 

 these being kept out of doors. Examples of G. rhamni and E. car- 

 damines were first seen on May 13th, the night-jar being heard the 

 same evening. Larvte of A. grossiilariata were rather abundant on 

 the gooseberry bushes about this time ; many of them, however, 

 proved to be ichneumoned. G. syringella was out on the fences on 

 May 18th, and cases of C. lineolella were noted on Ballota nigra. 

 A fresh specimen of H. ahruptaria was observed indoors on May 19th, 

 ova of E. erosaria and H. croceago commencing to hatch on the same 

 date. H. arbuti, a single example, appeared on the 22nd, D. tiliae 

 emerging from a pupa on the same date, followed by P. brassica on 

 the 26th. On the 30th E. centaureata, P. biicephala, and B. terrealis 

 began to emerge. June 6th found G. bifida emerging, and a visit to 

 the wood with beating tray resulted in a few full-fed larvae of 



B. partlienias. On the 11th C. phlosas (two specimens) appeared in 

 the garden, and B. tenebrosa, M. furuncula, D. pinastri, and A. nebu- 

 losa put in an appearance at sugar the same evening. From this 

 date onwards to mid-July the Plusias were very abundant at the 

 flowers of red valerian. P. moneta, P. chrysitis, P. iota, and 

 P. pjclchrina were common, P. chrysitis being the most frequent 

 visitor. Seven examples of T. porcellus were also seen. P. gamma, 

 curiously enough, was unusually scarce. E. coronata was noted at 

 rest on -June 14th and 23rd, July loth, and August 2nd. The evening 

 of June 18th was a notable one for insects, Plusias simply swarming 

 at flowers, five species being netted. S. myopmformis began to 

 emerge, June 15th, and E. rectangidata with its many varieties put 

 in an appearance about the 23rd. A single example of P. cardui was 

 seen on July 2nd, and M. maura appeared at sugar the same evening. 

 A 9 C. fluctuosa was taken on the garden fence on July 15th, whilst 

 on the 17th E. expallidata began to emerge from Darenth pupa3. In 

 the evening of the 17th T. derasa, M. maura, A. piyramidea came 

 to sugar. July 21st, C. ambigua, a single specimen, was taken at 

 sugar, and ova of M. athalia commenced to hatch. C. argiolus was 

 again noted near ivy on July 24th. On July 25th a full-fed larva of 



C. bifida was taken crawling down a poplar stem about 11 p.m. 

 August 2nd, several 0. antiqua were seen dashing about. (Many 

 of this species were noted about this date in Victoria Street, West- 

 minster, and Pierids seemed unusually numerous in London. A 

 Lycaenid butterfly was noted in Trafalgar Square on July 24th.) 

 August 3rd, H. nictitans began to appear at sugar, and was very 



