180 THE BNLOMOLOGIS(Y. 
after the usual period. I give the above as an illustration 
of the late appearance of Lepidoptera this year, and I think 
it would be very instructive if similar communications were 
made to the ‘ Eutomologist,’ in order that the effect on insect life 
of the extraordinary meteorological conditions through which 
we have been and still are passing may be recorded. In this 
neighbourhood the oak was not in leaf until beyond the middle of 
May, and the ash was not out till the end of that month. I saw 
no hawthorn in bloom until May was past. The continued 
bad weather has prevented most of the London entomologists 
from making excursions, but no doubt valuable observations 
have been made by those residing in the country. It is such 
observations that it appears to me it is so very important to 
record for permanent reference, and I trust that our subscribers 
will kindly respond to my request.—J. JennER WEIR; 6, Haddo 
Villas, Blackheath, S.E., June 21, 1879. 
PyRaMEIS CARDUI.—Although insects, especially Lepidoptera, 
are so very scarce this year, P. cardui is in abundance after 
hybernation. It has been seen in the streets of London, also in 
the suburbs, especially Camberwell, Hackney, Bethnal Green, and 
at Chingford and Sidcup, and many other places.—T’. Eepix. 
A Croup or Burrrerruimes.— A strange occurrence is reported 
from Wetzikon, Canton Zurich. On June 14th the commune was 
invaded by an immense swarm of butterflies, a kilometre wide, and 
so long that the procession took two hours to pass. They 
were principally of the kind known in Switzerland as Distelfalter, 
which feed on nettles and thistles. They flew from two to 
ten metres above the ground, and went off in a north-westerly 
direction. Distelfalter is the common German name for Cynthia 
cardui.—J. W. SLATER. 
ABUNDANCE oF InsEcTts.—The ‘Patriot’ of Angers relates 
that on June 10th an immense number of butterflies were observed 
flying above a part of the city called Le Mail. They were 
travelling at a little distance from the earth, and inconveniencing 
persons walking in the streets. The same phenomenon was 
observed in Alsace, at Bisheim, on the 8th. The Bisheim butter- 
flies were so numerous, according to the ‘ Journal d’Alsace,’ that 
the light of day was obscured. Their colour was red, in 
places tinged with grey. Swarms of grasshoppers have recently 
appeared in Armenia. News from Elisabetpol states that both 
