LEPIDOPTEKA IN 1896. 109 



rohoraria; lodis vernarla emerging; I bred out two or three dozens. 

 29th. L. liltoralis emerging from pupa. 



July 5th. Limenitis sibylla, Argynnis adippe, A. paphia, and var. 

 valesina, all very common. 11th. Netted a good series of Acidalia strami- 

 nata ; T. betulxB emerging freely from pupae ; bred several dozens. Ento- 

 mology is almost at a standstill; temperature 82° in shade; vegetation 

 parched up. I went over to Brockenhurst, on a visit to my friend 

 Mr. Stokes, in search of " crimsons"; two nights produced thirty Catocala 

 promissa, and over sixty C. sponsa, both species very abundant. Orgyiafas- 

 celina emerging. 28th. Saw two or three female Lyccena argiolus, second 

 brood, feeding upon bramble bloom ; it is curious that I never see any of 

 the spring brood outside the forest, whilst the second one is scattered all 

 around. 



Aug. Ist. Gnojihos ohscurata and Selidosema plumaria, common. 

 Several Acherontia atropos larvae. I was rather late in looking for this 

 larva, but by the appearance of the potato plants it must have been abun- 

 dant. 24th. Rainy weather has really set in now; useless to try for insects. 

 27th. Second brood of Anaitls plcujiata, common ; also a few Cidaria 

 immanata. 28th. StUbia anomala making its appearance to-day ; I took 

 two males and one female ; several later. I take them at dusk ; they fly 

 low ; also search palings for them. The palings around the forest enclosure's 

 are studded with nails half driven in, and bent over, each exhibiting about 

 an inch of its length ; in searching for anomala, look amongst the nails, 

 as the insect at rest exactly resembles one ; wings tightly rolled around its 

 body, pointed crest standing erect, the resemblance is extraordinary, but of 

 course it is really meant to mimic dark irregular pieces of bark upon trees, 

 and in the latter position I have often obtained them. 



Anthocharis cardamines has been abundant ; the general forest butter- 

 flies also; but what (to me) is a mystery is that although the larva of 

 Thecla betula is always very common, I rarely see the perfect insect. This 

 species usually comes out in August, and its flight is during the mornin«, 

 about midday ; in collecting I must pass many, as the ova are deposited 

 upon the very lowest sloe-bushes. I have seen specimens flyincr over oak- 

 trees, but have never seen one settle low down. 



I was glad to see Pieris brassica again, as it has been extinct around 

 here for some three or four years, and I think in this case the wasps were 

 the cause, rather than its usual parasites. The last batch of larv» I saw 

 here was in my garden, upon curly kale. I was about to collect them, 

 when I observed a wasp approach. I kept quiet and watched ; it settled 

 upon the plant and made direct for a larva, and with celerity killed it, 

 sucked a quantity of the juicy fluids, and rolled the remainder up with its 

 fore feet and mandibles into a round mass, and so flew away with it. 

 I waited, and within a few minutes the business was repeated ; I took the 

 remaining larvae. Wasps and hornets were very numerous at the time; the 

 larva of P. brassica, being gregarious and conspicuous, would fall an easy 

 prey. I heard of a specimen of Leucopliasia sinapis having been seen 

 here, but have not had that pleasure myself, so far, although it used to be 

 common ; it is getting scarce in all parts of the Forest. 



With the exception of Vane&sa urticce the Vanessidse have been scarce. 

 V. polychloros is very erratic in its appearance; some years common, others 

 the reverse. Thecla rubi was common, but scattered. T. quercus, un- 

 common. No Colias edusa, so expect we shall have to wait for another 

 flight from abroad. Sarrothripa, revayana, Halias prasinana, and H. quer- 



