114 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Notes from the Southend District. 



Coleophora albitarsella. Many cases of this insect observed on fences, 

 over ground ivy, early in May. 



Phorodesma smaraydaria. Hybernated larvse not uncommon in May. 

 First moth emerged June 2nd ; a female netted at Benfleet, June 22nd. 

 In 1895 I took three moths on June 24th, and bred my first female on June 

 18th. In 1894 I bred five moths on June 28lh. I think, therefore, that 

 the time given for the appearance of the perfect insect in Buckler's ' LarviE,' 

 vol. vii. p. 61, "about the middle of July," is a little too late. Confirma- 

 tory of this is a quotation from Peter Bouchard's diary, in the late 

 Mr. Howard Vaughan's very interesting list of the Lepidoptera of Leigh, 

 which reads: "June 20th, 1857. A fine iemdXe sinaragclaria. I think 

 it ought to be got earlier, near Leigh." 



Epiclmopteryx reticella. A few cases containing pupae found in May at 

 Canvey. A large number of males taken by assembling. It is worth a 

 long walk to watch the movements of dozens of this most charming little 

 insect. Very few flew direct to the decoy, but with quavering wings 

 ascended to the top of the fine grass, showing unmistakable excitement. 



Dichorampha sequana. At Benfleet, in May. 



Lithosia complana. June 9th, one larva found on a lichen-studded post 

 at Canvey. 



Hesperia lineola. June 9th, one larva at Canvey. The butterfly was 

 common at the end of the month. 



Tortiix- vihurniana. June 9th, many larvae in twisted tops of sea- 

 wormwood at Canvey. 



Senta maritima var. hipunctata. One only, at sugar, Benfleet, June 22nd. 



Herminia crihralls. Not uncommon on reeds. 



Enpcec'dia atricapitana. Among ragwort at Benfleet, early in July. 



Melanargia galatea. Several in one field only at Canvey. 



Lyccena astrarche. August 3rd, large number observed at Canvey. 



Scoparia jmllida. On reeds in July at Benfleet. 



E upithecia -suhnotata. Flying over Atriplex littoralis at Benfleet. 



Leucauia straminea. Larvae, June 22nd; imagines at sugared reeds in 

 July. 



Mamestra abjecta. At sugar in July ; only one or two of the var. 

 rarieffata. 



Hijdrcecia nictitans var. paludis. Not uncommon at sugared reeds. 

 Var. liicens. One or two at the same time. 



Agrotis tritici. One fine large well-marked specimen with broad pale costa. 



Chilo phragmitellus. A few only. 



Aijlossa cuprealis. One specimen only, at rest on a fence. 



During the continued wet weather in August and September I collected 

 very few insects, the only captures worth recording being two specimens of 

 Cirrhcedia xcrariipelina. A fine series of Nonarjria liitosa was taken early 

 in October on reeds at Benfleet, and one or two specimens of Depressaria 

 yeatiana, and one G. stiymatella about the same time, at sugar. — F. G. 

 Whittle; 3, Marine Avenue, Southend, March 1st, 1897. 



Notes from Reading. 



I reported early ia the year the capture of a female Endromis 

 versicolor, together with a batch of ova deposited on the same branch 

 as that on which I had found the insect. Ddemin? it best, I devoted 



