190 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



edusa in Abbot's Wood, near Eastbourne. — H. O. Wells; Inchiquin, 

 Lynwood Avenue, Epsom. 



Preponderance of the Female Sex in Lepidoptera. — The 

 experience of Mr. Dolton in breeding Bujxthcs inniaria is by no 

 means unusual. In fact, judging by my own, I should say that in 

 the great majority of cases more females are bred than males 

 in most species. In many instances I have found the proportion 

 of females to be very greatly in excess of the males. But when 

 taking them flying the reverse is the case, the males largely 

 predominating. Of a few species I have never yet taken a 

 female, e. g. Aspilates gilvaria, the reason being that, though there 

 are more females in existence they are less active and so less in 

 evidence. I don't think this applies to the butterflies, but I feel 

 sure it does to the great majority of moths. — (Eev.) J. E. Tarbat ; 

 Fareham, Hants. 



Libellula depressa, L. — In reference to Mr. C. Morley's request 

 for localities in which this species has occurred this year, I should 

 like to say that I have two specimens taken in my garden here — one, 

 a female, on June 3rd, and the other, a male, in dying condition on 

 July 14th. I may add that I had not previously seen this dragon- 

 fly during my twenty years' residence in this neighbourhood. — W. S. 

 GiLLES ; The Cottage, Bocking, Braintree, Essex. 



Acentropus niveus at Wanstead. — I was very pleased to see 

 this curious little species here last month. Although I have worked 

 the district closely for many years, I never saw tlie least trace of it 

 before. The males were common on the margins of four ponds and 

 could be readily boxed during the daytime ; in fact, they cling so 

 closely to the wet herbage that it is often a difficult matter to force 

 them to walk into the box ! The flight over the surface of the water 

 at dusk is very interesting, they seem almost to s/ca^e along, describing 

 innumerable semicircles, and seldom rising an inch above the water. 

 I have searched most assiduously, but not a single female winged or 

 wingless has rewarded my search. — A. Thurnall ; Wanstead, 

 July 16th, 1917. 



EucosMA branderiana, etc., at Wanstead. — I was also pleased 

 to meet with two very old friends in the shape of a single specimen 

 of the above and one of Gelechia nigra in a spot amongst aspens, 

 where thirty years ago they were not uncommon, but seem to have 

 got very scarce there of late years. 1 also saw, but failed to box, one 

 specimen of the curious little Statlimopoda ■pedella on an alder trunk. 

 Another species that has become very scarce the past few years. Of 

 other species taken or seen I may mention Pyrausta aurata larvae, 

 common on Nepeta cataria (a local plant here). Myelois crihrella, on 

 G. lanceolatus ; Gryptohlabes bistriga and Salebria betulcB, a few 

 bred ; a single S. fusca, not seen in the Forest district before ; 

 Euzophera 2^i''>^gfii'Si on ash trunks at dusk ; Schoenobius forficellus, 

 local amongst Poa aquatica at dusk ; Platyptilia bertrami, amongst 

 milfoil; Gelechia malvella, over hollyhock at dusk; Symmoca quad- 

 ripuncta, on fences at dusk, etc. — A. Thurnall. 



