208 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



be able to conceive what the writer witnessed in Coombe Wood 

 during the hot morning sunshine of Jul_y 3nd. Having brief!}' 

 referred to the .unwelcome result of insect hunting in this neigh- 

 bourhood, it is refreshing to be able to report more favourably of 

 day-flyers seen or taken during a visit to the New Forest, 

 extending over the last eight days of July. Here Argynnis 

 Papilla was out plentifully, but its variety, Valezlna, wanted 

 much looking for. A. Aglaia and A. Adippe were in fine con- 

 dition. Leucophasia Sinapis and JRhodocera rhamni were splendidly 

 fresh ; the latter could be taken by scores. Melanagria Galathea 

 occurred but sparingly. The genera Pyrarga, Satyrus and 

 Epinephele were represented bj' all their members, except 

 S. Megcera ; while the Lyccence could produce but one species, 

 viz., L. Argiolus. Among the " skippers," Hesperia sylvanus and 

 H. linea were common ; as also were Pieris napi and P. brassicce, 

 although P. rapce was conspicuous by its complete absence. To 

 sum up in a word, I took or saw in two days, consecutively, 

 twenty-one species of Diurni, which is as much as could be 

 reasonably expected from our limited list, even if the season 

 were a first-class one. Had the other modes of collecting been 

 equally prolific, I should have had no cause to complain of my 

 visit; but in no other means that were adopted could I get a 

 trace of success : beech, birch and sallows were beaten for hours 

 without producing a solitary larva. The net was used at twilight 

 for Georaetrse, without taking upon an average one specimen each 

 evening. Sugaring at Boldre Ford did not necessitate opening 

 the bottle ; and after several night's work of the same description, 

 in company with Mr. A. Mitchell, in Holland's Wood, we could 

 only count up twelve species of Noctuae between us. Cosmia 

 trapezina, Ampli%p)yra pyramidea and Triphcena- 'pronuha were the 

 most abundant ; Catocala promissa appearing but twice. In 

 addition to the NoctufB our sweets attracted Llthosia quadra and 

 one Cossus ligniperda. One Tripli(sna suhsequa was turned up 

 from grass in the daytime by my companion, who fortunatel}' 

 secured it. Of the Micro-lepidoptera I can say nothing, for it was 

 difficult to find twice as many species as there are inns in 

 Brockenhurst, where the weary collector can rest and refresh 

 himself without being considered the follower of a mere childish 

 pursuit, but will be regarded as a student of an interesting branch 

 of Science. — H. T. Dobson; New Maiden, Surrey, Aug. 11, 1883. 



