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Art. XXXIII. — Captures in I^pidoptera. By Henry Doubleday, Esq. 



Epping, July lOth, 1841. 

 My dear Friend, 



Having in the May number of ' The Entomologist ' 

 made a few remarks on the profusion in which the early Lepidoj)tera 

 appeared this spring, I venture to add a short account of my captures 

 at Epping during the last fortnight. Although last summer was so 

 particularly unfavourable to the Noctuidcey that many species usually 

 abundant were not seen at all, it has had little influence on their ap- 

 pearance this season : indeed many species have appeared in far great- 

 er plenty than I ever recollect to have seen them before, while others 

 are certainly not so abundant as usual. 



Agrotls segetum and exclamationis. These two species have posi- 

 tively swarmed. 



GrapJiiphora Augur. In the greatest plenty. 



„ hrunnea. In very great abundance. 



„ festiva. Not so common as the two preceding species, 



but still very plentiful. 



„ crassa. I took a single specimen last night (July 9), 



it is the only one I ever saw here. 



„ triangulum. Only a few specimens have occun-ed. 



Volia advena and himaculosa. These two species have been very 

 common. 



Leucania comma. In profusion everywhere. 



„ impura and pallens. Not so plentiful as L. comma, but 



very common. 



Hama aliena. Very common. 



Hadena remissa. Not very abundant. 



Mamestra furva. Not common. 



Rnsina ferruginea. I have obtained about twenty specimens of 

 this species : the males are more abundant than the other sex. 



Apamea I-niger, furca^ rava, oculea and didyma. Plentiful, and 

 I believe these reputed species to be all referable to one most incon- 

 stant insect. The black streak on the upper wings, resembling the 

 letter I, which some specimens possess, is of no value as a specific 

 character, as many specimens oiMiana cethiops -posseas it, while others 

 exhibit no trace of the mark. 



Miana latrmicula and strigilis, common ; and cethiops, abundant. 

 It is probable these will all prove varieties of one species. 



