NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 227 



megcera is following the general rule of the double-brooded 

 species this season, being everywhere abundant. Polyommatus 

 phlaas occurs everywhere here with L. icariis and L. astrarclie ; 

 very abundant, although not in such profusion as the two other 

 Lycsenidfe ; it occurs frequently in the gardens and streets. 

 Melanargia galatea in greater abundance this year, both at 

 Kingsdown and on the Dover cliffs, than it has been for many 

 years ; still out in good condition, some females apparently 

 emerged yesterday (August 9th). I have not seen a specimen of 

 Vanessa {Cynthia) carclui here this year ; for the last five years 

 it has literally swarmed about the town, and on the cliffs at 

 Kingsdown ; I cannot find larvae. A wave of immigrants of this 

 species this year has undoubtedly not reached our shores. Of 

 Colias edusa and C. liyale not a specimen ; I was told that one of 

 the former was seen at Folkestone on Friday last. Argynnis 

 aglaia seems unusually scarce this year; I have only seen two 

 specimens all the summer. Lyccena corydon fairly abundant on 

 the cliffs around the South Foreland, but not in such numbers 

 as I have previously seen it ; only two specimens were seen at 

 Kingsdown, where a few years ago the species was abundant. 

 Most of the double-brooded moths are out, and in some numbers. 

 Melanippe galiata was flying freely last evening, and many were 

 worn. Zonosoma imnctaria, Timandra amataria, and Acidalia 

 ornataweve taken on the cliffs at Kingsdown yesterday. Acidalia 

 rusticata was, as usual, there. Is the natural food-plant of this 

 species known yet ? I feel certain it is Parietaria officinalis 

 (wall pellitory), although I cannot prove it to be so. — J. W. 

 Tutt; 3, Park Street, Deal, August 10, 1887. 



Abundance of Pierid^ in Somersetshire. — This season 

 has as yet brought forth (as far as I am aware) few specimens 

 new to the locality, but two or three species at all times notably 

 common have turned up in unusually great numbers this year, 

 viz., Pieris rap(B, P. hrassiccs, Vanessa urticcB. Pieris rajx^ and 

 P. brassicce have been frequently' known to cross the sea in large 

 numbers and disperse inland, and, although I have heard of no 

 such migration, their profusion lately in this district might easily 

 be accounted for in this way. How can we account for the 

 abundance of Vanessa iirticce, of which there are no such records ? 

 May not the unusual heat have something to do with their large 

 numbers ? They would increase incredibly in ordinary years 



