CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 93 



specimen of Calymnia pyralina ; and on the 18th a fine Plusia vioneta 

 (previously recorded, Entora. xxxii. 212). Other trap captures during the 

 month included : — Lithosia lurideola (plentiful), Arctia caia, Bomhyx 

 neustria, Drepana lacertula, Phalera hucephala (common), Bryophila 

 perla, Acronycta phi, Leucania lithargyria, L. comma, L. pallens, 

 Dipterygia scahriuscula (pinastri), Cengo matura, Caradrina morpheus, 

 C. alsines, Rusina teitebrosa, Noctua augur, Hadena oleracea, Selenia 

 jxiUnria, Halia ivavaria, Lowaspilis margiuata, Melanthia ocellata, 

 Cidaria associata, Pelurga comitata, and Aventia fiexula. A few addi- 

 •> tional species were taken in the trap in August : Luperina testacea suddenly 

 appeared about the 8th, and was common for a few nights ; and Lopho- 

 pteryx camelina, Triphana iantliina, and Epione apiciana were also 

 noticed. From the middle of August to the end of September I was 

 away from home, and, consequently, was unable to do anything with the 

 trap during that period. In October Anchocelis pistacina, A. lunosa, and 

 Miselia oxyacanthcB were captured ; and in November Asteroscopus sphinx 

 (one male) and Cheimatohia hrumata. Several additional species came to 

 light at my window during the season, of which may be mentioned : — 

 Hybemia marginaria (common in March), Xylocampa lithoriza, Hadena 

 dentina, Calymnia trapezina, Ennomos tiliaria, Coremia unidentaria, and 

 Hydracia nictitans. — Philip J. Barrard ; Bushey Heath, Herts, Feb. 

 2nd. 1900. 



Lepidoptera in 1899. — During the exceedingly mild and open winter 

 and early spring which we experienced last year, the common Georaetrae 

 which put in an appearance at that season were very abundant in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Reading. The sallows in that district were mostly in full 

 bloom during the latter part of March, but nightly attention failed to 

 produce anything worth having. The most curious thing about the early 

 Noctuae was the extraordinary abundance of Tceniocampa stabilis, which 

 outnumbered all the other common moths by at least six to one. About 

 this time a few nice specimens of Selenia illunaria were attracted by the 

 lamp in a room. 



Early in April a fine specimen of Vanessa pohjchloros was found hyber- 

 nating in a greenhouse. This butterfly, which appears to be getting 

 scarce, was in remarkably fine condition for the time of year. 



The results of collecting during May and the earlier part of June were 

 decidedly disappointing, and, indeed, the only decent insects taken during 

 this period were three Chcerocampa elpenor, which were captured while 

 hovering over honeysuckle iu the garden. About June 13th, when the 

 weather was beautifully fine, Macroglossa stellatarum was abundant, but 

 seemed to disappear again until the end of July. Sugaring produced 

 scarcely anything until the middle of July, when Cosmia diffinis, C. ajinis, 

 Mania maura, and Cerigo cytherea were plentiful. I also took several 

 Oonoptera libatrix at sugar about July 20th, which seems to be rather an 

 early date for this species. On July 23rd a full-fed larva of Smerinthus 

 ocellatus was brought to me, and on being placed in the breeding-cage 

 immediately disappeared beneath the soil. Rather earlier than this date 

 Pamber Wood was visittd with small success, although several Vanessa 

 polychloros and one beautiful Limcnitis sibylla were seen. Argynnis 

 paphia was also very plentiful. 



Aug. 8th found me at Bude, iu Cornwall. The best locality for insects 

 there is the small strip of sand-dunes near the mouth of the haven. As no 



