196 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



&c), and 1851 for others (i. e. 246, 257, &c.) ; while in several 

 instances he quotes two dates, i. e. (on p. 427) " Metapodius, 

 H. Sch. Wans. ix. 239 (1850), and 257 (1851); Spin. Tav. Sin. 

 Hem. 42 (1850)," thus incidentally asserting that part at least 

 of this ninth Band was published before Spinola's work. 



According to Dallas, p. 240 was the last page published in 

 1850, p. 241 commencing 1851 ; and, as a matter of fact, the 

 ninth Band is divided into "hefts" of forty-eight pages each, 

 p. 240 thus completing the fifth "heft." Were these issued in 

 separate, dated covers ? In the only copy I have seen these, if at 

 one time present, are not now preserved. The following details 

 may also be noted : — 



1. Schaffer dates his preface from Regensburg, Jan. 1852. 



2. The preface (by J. E. Gray) — presumably written after the 

 completion of Dallas's manuscript — is dated June 6th, 1852. 



3. The usually accepted date of the eighth Band is 1848; 

 Dallas, in part i. of the 'List,' quotes some early pages as 1845, 

 later ones as 1846. 



COLLECTING IN THE FENS, 1899. 

 By F. M. B. Carr. 



Unfortunately, when my father and I arranged to pay a 

 visit to Wicken some months ago, we forgot the enemy of ento- 

 mologists, the moon. Curiously enough, however, nearly every 

 evening was so cloudy that it made but little difference, and we 

 really had darker and more favourable nights than the collectors 

 of the week before, but the wind was generally north-east or 

 south-east. 



On Saturday, June 17th, a baking hot day, we arrived at 

 Soham station about five p.m., having previously been half 

 choked with dust, and nicely-cooked in a railway-carriage con- 

 taining ten people. Mr. W. O. Bullman, of Wicken, with whom 

 we stayed, met us at the station, and during the drive to Wicken 

 informed us that Hydrilla palustris had failed to put in an 

 appearance this year, whereat we were somewhat disappointed, 

 as I at least had had foolish day-dreams with regard to this 

 insect. 



What with the drive, the country air, and a most excellent 

 tea (Mrs. Bullman's teas always are excellent), we felt quite 

 ready for the fray, and after seeing Mr. Solomon Bailey we 

 proceeded with him to the fen about nine p.m. 



The night was moonlight and rather cold, with an east wind ; 

 just about as unpromising as it could be ! Of course under 

 these circumstances nothing much could be expected. 



Dusking produced single specimens of Earias chlorana, Miami 

 arcuosa, and Meliana flammea. Herminia cribralis, Hepialus 



