4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
frequently been asked by men of the neighbourhood whether I 
knew “ bicolorum,” and had captured it yet. 
In July matters changed slightly for the better, but I had 
gone to a locality on the west coast, whose immediate neighbour- 
hood was not prolific of any varieties, though I took a few Plusia 
bractea. ‘his species I hear was rarer than usual in its accus- 
tomed haunts. . 
From the close of June to the present the emergence of 
Lepidoptera has been strikingly in arrear; and although the 
summer was remarkable for its sunshine, yet insects were from a 
fortnight to three weeks late in appearance. In fact I met with 
a series of disappointments thereby, when from time to time I 
went to search for a well-known species in their known localities 
at the usual season, or a little later. Bankia argentula, Hrastria 
fasciana (fuscula), Hupithecia debiliata, Emmelesia temata, 
and Noctua dahlit all more or less played me false. Of the 
latter, for instance, last year I found none in good condition on 
August 25th, while on September Yth ult. I captured a number, 
of which about half were fresh and in good order. 
In September I spent a short time at Markree Castle, 
Co. Sligo, and from thence visited for a few days at Colonel 
Cooper’s Shooting Lodge, on the Oxhill Mountains. The local 
insects in both localities seemed to be in normal abundance, and 
in the latter I noticed a surprising abundance (among other 
commoner species) of Celena haworthit, some of which were still 
(about the 20th) in fair order; also of T’apinostola fulva. I was 
in hopes also of finding Phibalapteryx lapidata there, as it 
occurs on the moors west of Ballina, and has most likely a wide 
range. However I was not so fortunate, and was only able to 
meet with two specimens in the latter locality, in which they 
were first discovered by my friend, Mr. Fetherstonhaugh, many 
years ago. The weather was windy and sunless; and under 
these circumstances it is a mere chance to meet with this insect, 
which is a shy and very feeble flyer. Can anyone tell me whether 
they are to be taken in May, and if so about what portion of the 
month ? 
‘Lhe phenomenal appearance of rare Sphingide and Colias 
edusa in England this year, as recorded in the ‘ Entomologist,’ 
seems not to have been without a parallel on this side of the 
Channel, but to what comparative extent it is impossible tu say 
