274 * the entomologist. 



Peronea ceistana, ab. albovittana, Stephens, in Epping 

 Forest. — Amongst the few P. cristana obtained this year in 

 Epping Forest was one example of the handsome ab. albovittana, 

 Stephs., which I had not previously taken, or seen recorded from 

 there.— W. G. Sheldon ; October 29th, 1918. 



Grapholitha scoPAiiiANA IN SussEX. — This brilliant little Tortrix 

 was introduced to the British fauna by the late J. B. Hodgkinson, 

 who took it in the north-west of England some forty years ago. The 

 food-plant. Genista tinctoria, is locally abundant in the neighbourhood 

 of Three Bridges, and I have often wondered if G. scoiMviana did 

 not frequent it. I have even searched for it and its larva a good 

 many times, without, however, obtaining any success. On May 11th 

 last I was passing through a certain field in which G. tinctoria 

 grows plentifully, and which I had passed through scores of times 

 during the past forty years. It occurred to me that possibly 

 G. 'perleiyidana, which is found plentifully in this field, and the larva 

 of which is not certainly known, might be flying. It was not, but 

 I netted a small Tortrix which was flying in the afternoon sun. 

 I at once recognised that I had obtained G. scopariana. It was quite 

 plentiful, and in the course of half an hour's intermittent sunshine 

 I secured about thirty examples. I should say that in Sussex, at 

 any rate, the first week in May is the proper emergence time. — 

 W. G.. Sheldon ; October 29th, 1918. 



Nepticula intimella (■?). — I feel sure Major Smart will forgive 

 me when I ask if his supposed Nei^ticula intimella he met with in 

 such numbers, as recorded by him in the last paragraph of his note 

 in this (November) month's issue, was really a Nepticula at all. 

 Intimella is a decidedly local species, and by no means a very common 

 one ; the larva feeds in willow leaves, Salix fragilis being its favourite, 

 I think. I have never seen the imago at large, and a large majority 

 of the many species in this extensive genus are hardly ever seen in 

 the perfect state except, of course, when bred. Now, I think it quite 

 possible that his moth may have been Heliozela sericiella. This 

 little moth flies in numbers round oak in April and May, and might 

 very easily pass for a Neyticula. I well remember, many years ago, 

 seeing it flying in dozens round a furze bush close to an oak tree, and 

 thought I had made a discovery, as I had never heard of a Nepticula 

 (as I supposed it to be at the time) feeding upon furze. I mentioned 

 the matter to Dr. Wood, and he told me that he also had noticed this 

 habit. I wish some of our young collectors could be persuaded to 

 pay attention to this highly interesting genus ; many of the species 

 are very easy to breed, and some of them brilliant in the extreme. 

 Although greatly interested in them, I find it now quite impossible 

 to pin and set them as in former days, owing to indifferent eyesight. 

 — A. Thurnall ; Wanstead, November 6th, 1918. 



Late Occurrence of Pyrameis cardui. — The brilliant sunshine 

 of October 24th tempted me out to see if there were any butterflies 

 about. Nothing turned up till I discovered a field full of knapweed 

 in full flower. Rumicia phlceas was conspicuous by its absence, but 

 half a dozen fresh Vanessa urticcs were disporting themselves on the 

 flowers. In the distance I saw a strong-winged insect flying wildly 



