CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 273 



observed here twice, and once near Hockley Heath, a few miles distant. 

 j^sclina grandis undoubtedly was the commonest of the larger species, it 

 being met with in a variety of situations throughout the district ; it was 

 especially abundant over the commons in Sutton Park (N. Warwickshire), 

 where also y5?. cyanea was plentiful. This last species is sometimes seen 

 careering wildly about the streets of Birmingham. Cordulegaster annu- 

 latus, though usually considered a local insect, is widely distributed over 

 this district, but never in considerable numbers. CalojJteryx splendens was 

 plentiful amongst rank herbage about a brook at Hockley Heath. C. virgo 

 is also common, but I did not meet with it this year. Pyrrhosoma minium 

 and its companion. Agrion jiuella were both about in immense numbers. 

 On several occasions jEschna grandis was observed ovipositing, sometimes 

 on the leaf of a water-lily, and at other times thrusting its abdomen some 

 distance below the surface of the water, the eggs on this occasion being 

 attached to the stem of the plant. Once I noticed the insect fasten its eggs 

 under the leaf of the plant ; during this process it almost entirely 

 submerged itself, While ovi position was taking place the female always 

 contracted her long slender abdomen into the form of a loop, the reverse to 

 Libellula depressa, the structure of whose abdomen seems only adapted to 

 be kept fairly rigid ; being broad and flat, it certainly does not admit of 

 such extreme contraction. — Augustus D. Imms; "Linthurst," Oxford 

 Road, Moseley, Worcestershire, September, 1897. 



Captures in Essex. — The following is a list of Lepidoptera that I have 

 taken during the present season. Unless otherwise stated, Benfleet is the 

 locality : — Leucania ohsoleta, June 24th, at sugar. Ditula hartmarmiana, 

 June 26th, several on fences near osiers. Elachista triatomella, Jane 26th, 

 flying over meadow-grass, and settled on the railway fence. Penthina 

 gentiana, June 27th, several bred from teasels. Aplecta advena, June 28th, 

 at sugar. Ceratophora inornatella, June 28th, a few on sugared reeds. 

 Cnephasia politana, June 28th, netted. Coleopliora anatipennella, June 

 30th, one or two on the wing. Acontia Itictuosa, June 30th, 10.45 p.m., 

 flying round one of the lamps at Benfleet station. Antithesia salicella, 

 July 3rd ; this fine tortrix common among osiers. I don't know whether 

 this species or P. curtisellics more closely resembles the excrement of a bird ; 

 when at rest on a fence the likeness in each case is remarkable. Agrotis 

 corticea, July 3rd, at sugar, a rare moth in these parts. Leucoma salicis, 

 July 3rd — Aug. 4th, at gas-lamps, Southend. Eupcecilia angustana, July 

 Gth, at rest. Orthosia ujmlon, July 9th, at sugared blackthorn, but osiers 

 quite near. RhodopJma advenella, July 29th, at light, Benfleet Station. 

 Nonagria neurica, July 31st and Aug. 7th, at sugar. N. geminipuncta, 

 Aug. 14th, bred, and taken at sugar. Hornceosoma senecionis, Aug. 5th, 

 a few from larvae collected at Leigh July 1 2th. Apodia hifractella (Aug. 

 15 th), and Ptocheuusa inopiella (Aug. J 8th), on heads of Inula at Leigh. 

 Plusia festuccB, July 18th, at sugar. The season here has been a good one, 

 not equal to the last, but still better than that experienced in many 

 districts. — F. G. Whittle: 3, Marine Avenue, Southend, Sept. Ist, 1897. 



[Hornceosoma senecionis, Vaughan, is now generally considered to be 

 synonymous with H. cretacella, Rossler ; vide Entom. xxiii. 365. — Ed.] 



