NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 139 



possibilities of the existence in these beautiful woods of some of the 

 rarities formerly taken there. At all events, no entomologist or 

 botanist could spend other than a profitable and enjoyable day in 

 this out-of-the-\Yay corner of CromNveH's county. — Hebbert Mace ; 

 Faircotes, Harlow. 



EuPiTHEciA PusiLLATA IN DERBYSHIRE. — It sccms, perhaps, worth 

 while to record in the ' Entomologist ' the occurrence of this species 

 in Eepton Shrubs, as the locality is so far outside its recorded range. 

 Apparently it is well established in one small group of old spruce 

 trees, as upwards of twenty specimens were taken in two consecutive 

 afternoons. It is curious that it should have so long escaped notice 

 in a wood that has been so regularly investigated, but it does not 

 appear to be present in other groups of spruces in the wood, and 

 this particular clump had probably never been searched at the right 

 time of year. Coccyx fiinbriana, also not hitherto recorded from 

 Derbyshire, occurred fairly freely in the same wood this March, but 

 that is a species more readily overlooked. — H. C. Hayward ; Eepton, 

 Derby. 



Scarcity of Spring Insects. — I wonder if collectors in other 

 districts are undergoing the same experience that is to be met with 

 here. The moths common to the three first months of the year were 

 all to be met with in fair numbers, including P. strataria and 

 A. hispidaria, while X. areola was also seen in its usual numbers. 

 At sallow the Tteniocampas were not up to the average, though 

 gothica, imlverulenta, stabilis, incerta, munda, ojnma and gracilis 

 were all taken, as was also P. ruhricosa and 0. vaccinii. With the 

 passing of the sallows insects seem to have ceased. A list of those 

 observed or taken consists of the following species : E. abbreviata (2), 

 E. imviilata{l), L. carpinata (2) — last year this species was, as usual, 

 common everywhere in woods. T. crepuscular ia, common in our fir 

 woods as a rule, furnished about half a dozen specimens this year. 

 In addition to these may be added two specimens of L. suffumata 

 and one extraordinarily early specimen of X. fluctuata (April 25th), a 

 fair number of A. badiata, and one or two S. bilunaria. With the 

 exception of a few specimens of B. piarthenias in April, and of 

 E. atomaria, just beginning to be seen upon our moors, the foregoing 

 list comprises every species noted since the middle of April. As to 

 butterflies, the same scarcity is apparent. Aglais urtiae, unusually 

 plentiful at this time last year, has afforded a few odd specimens ; 

 C. rubi is appearing in moderate numbers, but of the " whites " two 

 specimens only of P. rapce have been seen, April 28th and May 3rd ; 

 neither P. brassicce,napi,\'\o): E .cardamines have put in any appearance 

 at all. On the other hand, vegetation is unusually forward ; both the 

 trees and hedgerows are at least a fortnight in advance of what they 

 were in 1919. To me this scarcity of insect life at present is quite 

 inexplicable. Is it being experienced in other districts than ours ? — 

 H. D. Ford ; Thursby Vicarage, Carlisle, May 15th, 1920. 



Macedonian Butterflies. — I have read with interest Mr. 

 Rowland-Brown's notes in this month's ' Entomologist ' on Mace- 

 donian butterflies, and have gone carefully through the other articles 

 which have appeared from time to time. I was pleased to find that 



