NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 61 
about wasps’ nests when built in trees? I have frequently 
observed this habit, and have never been able to ascertain the 
cause. —E. Incuesy Minter; North Dulwich, Surrey, Jan., 1886. 
Lyc#®NA ARGIOLUS IN THE MrpLanps. — On reading Mr. 
Harcourt Bath’s notes upon Lycena argiolus (Entom. 29), I 
thought it might be useful to pen a few remarks of its occurrence 
in the neighbourhood of the Malverns. Up to about the year 1877 
I looked upon it as one of our common butterflies ; it could be 
seen flying with Thecla rubi, both of which, the last few years, 
have become very scarce in all our woods and copses. The best 
locality in this neighbourhood is the Holly Bush Hill, about five 
miles on the Malvern range, where the holly trees grow most 
luxuriantly. I have taken ZL. argiolus as early as the 17th 
of April, in good condition till the 7th of May, and again in 
August, but have never then seen it plentiful. I have observed 
it flitting over the bramble blossoms, and have beaten the larve 
of it from holly and ivy in Oetober, which larve have turned to 
pupe about the beginning of November, and have emerged in the 
following April. There are two broods in our district; the April 
specimens are larger and brighter than those taken in August.— 
W. Epvwarps; Great Malvern, January, 1886. 
Lyc#NA ARGIOLUS IN THE Mipianps. — In answer to the 
editorial query (Entom. 83), I may say that mountain ash flowers 
early in the summer with us. On reference to my diary I find 
that the earliest date on which I have known it to flower in 
Sutton Park (the result of several years’ observations) is May 
5th, and its fruits commence to ripen in July, so that it is quite 
unlikely that it should be able to support a second brood of the 
butterfly. On the other hand, bramble comes into flower much 
later, June 21st being the earliest date recorded in my diary. It 
remains in full blossom throughout July, August, and the major 
part of September, and occasional flowers may be noticed even as 
late as November (26th) provided the weather be mild. ‘The 
blackberry blossom could thus very well supply the requisite 
food for a second brood of L. argiolus, should there happen to be 
one. In the same article, p. 31, line 7, “ Harwich” should read 
“ Warwick,” and p. 31, line 20, ‘‘ Wood” should read “ brood.” 
—W. Harcourt Baru; Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, 
February 15, 1886. 
