NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 195 
MacroGiossa BOMBYLIFORMIS IN LINcoLNSHIRE.—I am not a subscriber 
to Mr. C. G. Barrett’s new book on the British Lepidoptera, and therefore 
do not know whether it is a useful work in the matter of localities; but 
ever since its publication was announced I have not ceased to wonder why 
no notice has appeared in the ‘ Entomologist,’ requesting collectors to 
furnish lists of localities. This course was adopted by the late Edward 
Newman, before issuing his ‘ British Butterflies,’ with a very satisfactory 
result. Of course, in the case of rare species, one does not expect the exact 
local ty to be specified. No doubt most of your readers know that in 
Stainton’s ‘ Manual,’ for instance, Cambridge (or Ca. in abbreviated form) 
‘embraces a district of certainly not less than ten miles round the famous 
University town. Well, the foregoing thoughts have been suggested to me 
by the fact that, although I have been collecting since 1866, I could never 
succeed in obtaining even a typeof M. bombyliformis in the way of exchange, 
nor had I ever encountered the species personally, until May 26th, 1892. 
On that day I was collecting in a wood near Wragby, and captured two 
specimens of Macroglossa, hovering over blue bugle (Ajuya reptans) in a 
sunny riding of a large wood, where, if the truth must be told, Hesperia 
paniscus disports itself at that period of the year. I thought no more about 
my two Macroglossa until I came to set them out, when I discovered one 
to be the long-sought-for M. bombyliformis. On May 27th, I took another 
in the same wood, and on May 28th five more, making a total of seven ; 
but after that day J could only find M. fuciformis. The two species seem 
to be of very similar habit, and hover over blue bugle flowers, during snn- 
shine, in the damp ridings of large woods. So far as my knowledge extends, 
M. bombyliformis has of late years occurred very rarely in the British 
Islands, and I think that if any of your readers have come across it, a short 
account of the occurrence would be extremely interesting. All my speci- 
mens were in very fine condition, having travelled several miles alive in 
glass-bottomed boxes without sustaining any injury.—(Rev.) G. H. Raynor; 
Panton Rectory, Wragby, July 16, 1892. 
BurrerFLIES scarce IN JUNE AND JuLy, 1892.—I should be very 
glad to know whether anyone has noticed a considerable diminution in the 
number of butterflies (generally) about lately. During the hot weather at 
the end of May there were quantities about, but since then I have seen 
very few. On the 3rd July, 1 walked from Cobham to Maidstone, most of 
the way being through country, and’ under conditions very favourable for 
butterflies ; but the only insects I saw were Pieris brassicae, a few; P. rape, 
afew; Huchloé cardamines, a very much damaged male; Colias hyale, or 
very pale edusa, one; Argynnis aglaia, three, perfect; Vanessa urtica, 
frequent, perfect ; V. atalanta, frequent; Hpinephele ianira, everywhere ; 
Canonympha pamphilus, a tew; Thecla rubi, two, damaged; Lycena 
icarus ; Hesperia sylvanus. — PHILIp DE LA GarDE; H.M.S. ‘ Pembroke,’ 
Chatham, July 5, 1892. 
Foop oF THz Larva or ASTEROSCOPUS NUBECULOSA.—In addition tc 
the plants mentioned by me, ante, p. 173, I find that the larva of A. nube- 
eulosa will eat plum freely. Mr. McArthur informs me that the larve do 
well on pear.—Ricuarp SourH ; 12, Abbey Gardens, St. John’s Wood. 
COSMOPTERYX ORICHALCELLA IN DorsETSHIRE.— Among other good 
Micro-Lepidoptera 1 tcok two specimens of C. orichalcella by sweeping 
among rough herbage in Bere Wood, near Bloxworth, on the 7th of July, 
