COLLECTING IN THE FENS, 1899. 199 



Papilio machaon and Gonepteryx rhamni complete the Wicken 

 larvae. 



Imagines were scarce, and the following were the only ones 

 noticed during the daytime : — Papilio machaon, Gonepteryx rhamni 

 (a battered male), the common Pierids, Euchloe cardamines (one 

 male in the "drove"), one Vanessa atalanta, Coenonympha pam- 

 philus, Epinephele ianira, Hesperia sylvinus, Bombyx rubi (a few), 

 Fidonia atomaria (some nice forms), Lomaspilis marginata, and 

 Camptogramma bilineata. Six Hyria auroraria were walked up 

 June 23rd. 



On Wednesday, June 21st, v Mr. Bullman drove us to Chippen- 

 ham and back, where, by kind permission of Mr. Tharp, the 

 owner, we had a day's collecting. I think Chippenham looks 

 one of the best places round about, and Mr. W. J. Cross, of Ely, 

 whom we met there, thinks "tons " of it. Bankia argentula was 

 very much in evidence and we soon caught enough of them. By 

 beating, seven specimens of Erastria fuscula came out, and other 

 imagines seen were Strenia clathrata, Fidonia atomaria, Euclidia 

 glyphica, E. mi, and Phytometra csnea. Plusia orichalcea larvae 

 had all disappeared ; they had been well worked. Larvae of 

 Tceniocampa gracilis were abundant, as at Wicken, and about 

 two dozen larvae of Cucullia verbasci were taken from figwort ; 

 only about eight have pupated successfully. On the way home 

 a big batch of Vanessa vertices, were seen. 



Tuddenham is unfortunately most strictly preserved now for 

 game, and all the collectors who paid this hunting-ground a visit 

 had been turned off, Bailey included. We were, however, most 

 anxious to take Agrophila sidphnralis, and accordingly went over 

 June 21th. We succeeded, after most tiring work on a very dull 

 day, in walking up ten .1. sulphuralis, nine of which were good 

 specimens, and six Acidalia rubricata, and just met the keepers 

 when we had finished. About a dozen larvae of Scotosia certata 

 were beaten from barberry, but have not done at all well since, 

 and there are now only about four survivors. 



Altogether we were very well satisfied with our first visit to 

 the fen, which was made all the more pleasant by the comfort of 

 Mr. W. 0. Bullman's rooms, and we were thoroughly well looked 

 after. Mr. Solomon Bailey did all in his power to make the 

 entomological part of our stay successful, providing us with 

 lamps, sheet, treacle, and last, but by no means least, localities. 



1 may just mention that a magnificent female Sphinx ligustri 

 was given to me by a man in Wicken, who had just taken it on 

 a bush in his garden. 



Of insects which we did not take, an occasional Arctia full- 

 ginosa and Viminia venosa turned up at other sheets, and Mr. 

 Bailey found two female Macrogaster arundinis at rest on rushes. 



46, Handen Road, Lee, S.E. 



