192 the entomologist. 



On the Scarcity of Lepidoptera in the month of June. — 

 During the greater part of last month I was on the South Downs, 

 collecting Lepidoptera ; the weather was on almost ever}' day- 

 wet, cold, and windy, and exceedingly few butterflies were on the 

 wing ; the only species which could be considered common was 

 Coenonymplia Pamphilus ; even Lyccena Alexis was rare, and 

 Lyaena Adonis, usually a common species there, was very scarce ; 

 no doubt this was partially due to the cold, but I have long held 

 the opinion, which the exj^erience of this season confirms, that a 

 mild winter is very unfavourable to Lepidoptera. In the evenings 

 almost no Geometridse or Noctuidse were on the wing, and a few 

 males of Hepialus humuli alone were seen on some evenings. I 

 saw but one specimen of Pieris, viz., P. rap(B. — J. Jenner Weir; 

 0, Haddo Villas, Blackheath, S.E., July 4, 1889. 



Total failure in Lepidoptera. — Can any of your readers 

 explain the cause of the failure in imagos this year, and if it is 

 generally so throughout the country ? I have been many miles 

 in search of, but find hardly any Lepidoptera of any descrip- 

 tion; not even a Vanessa urticce or any Pieridce ; Geometrse 

 and Tortrices are equally rare. Have also been out beating trees 

 and shrubs for larvse, but cannot find even any of these : there 

 used to come hundreds of moths into the garden of an evening to 

 the flowers, but now there is nothing of the kind to be seen. In 

 fact, I have been out so often for nothing that I have quite given 

 it up for the present. — S. Bradbury; Abbots Bromley, July 24, 

 1883. 



Spring Notes. — I have taken this spring rather more insects 

 than usual. Two appeared very early, viz., Arctia fuliginosa on 

 April 21st, and Euchelia jacohece on April 22nd. Saturnia carpini, 

 however, did not leave the pupa till May 1st. Tceniocampa munda 

 appeared on February 22nd. Sugar was not successful ; I only 

 took TcBniocampa gothica. At light I took Selenia illimaria and 

 Anaitis plagiata. Vanessa Polychloros was more abundant than 

 usual this spring. I have only visited the New Forest once this 

 spring (May 15th), and that turned out a cold dull day. Fidonia 

 atomaria and piniai'ia were taken on the heath. Amongst 

 others I took Lyccena Argiolus and Melanippe montanata. Neme- 

 ohi'us Lucina, Argynnis Euphrosyne, and Hepialus hectiis have 

 been taken at Southampton this season. — H. E. U. Bull; 

 Millbrook Lodge, near Southampton, June 4, 1882. 



