CAPTURES AND FIKLD REPORTS. 319 



semistriata, Fieb. were rare. As far as my experience goes, scndstriata 

 is usually a pale species, but last summer I took a specimen which was 

 as dark as the average fossanim. I also had the good fortune to 

 capture two specimens of scotti, Fieb. — Oscar Whittaker ; 39, Claren- 

 don Road, Whalley Eange, Manchester, Nov. 12th, 1903. 



Notes on Captures, 1903. — The past season has been one of the 

 most disappointing, and one of the most unfruitful in interesting 

 captures, that has occurred for many years, and although the neigh- 

 bourhood has been worked rather more assiduously than usual, the 

 result has been almost nil. Sugar, although persisted iu with con- 

 siderable regularity, has been nearly a blank, both in the variety of 

 species and, with the exception of one week in the early part of 

 August, in the number of insects seen. The only noteworthy captures 

 were two specimens of Tethea subtusa, which is rare in this district. 

 A rather curious occurrence was that of two Polia fiavicmcta, taken at 

 rest on two different days on the brick pillar of a gateway in the 

 middle of the town. This species, which we have never met with 

 before in this neighbourhood during an experience of some fifty years, 

 may perhaps have been recently introduced among garden plants from 

 another district. Neither this nor T. subtusa is recorded in the only 

 Chatteris list extant — that given in ' The Fenland,' published in 1878, 

 a list to which we have been able to make a good many additions 

 within the last few years. 



Two days were spent on Chippenham Common, where the only 

 species in any number were Eivula sericealis and Catoptria scopoliana. 

 One specimen each of Toxocampa pastinum and Bankia (Dijentula and a 

 pair of Stirpnonota orobana were taken ; unfortunately the latter were 

 hastily set down for Dicmrampha petiverella, a species it somewhat 

 resembles ; had its food-plant, Vicia sylvatica, been searched, more 

 might have been taken. PInjtometra cBnea was fairly plentiful and in 

 fine condition, the insects appearing a fine rich red as they flew in the 

 sunshine. 



A rough windy day at Wicken Fen was entirely unproductive, with 

 the exception of four larvae of Papilio machaon, the lovely colouring of 

 which rendered irresistible the desire to bring them away. 



A day or two's collecting in the neighbourhood of Hunstanton 

 produced only two species we had not taken before, Crambus fasce- 

 linellns and Aydistes beunetii ; two examples of the former were taken 

 at dusk among C. inguinatellus, and although the sand-hills and 

 salt-marshes were subsequently hunted indefatigably, both in the day- 

 time and at dusk, no more specimens were met with. 



Aydistes hennetil appeared on two evenings only, and seem to fly 

 for some fifteen to twenty minutes just before dark, when they are 

 most difficult to see. They are apparently non-existent in the day- 

 time, and were not to be found after the moon had risen. This species 

 also, though appearing iu some numbers on these two evenings, dis- 

 appeared absolutely, and, notwithstanding some hours spent in looking 

 for them afterwards, not another one was seen. 



It is a question of some interest how far the cold and wet of the 

 past summer will affect the prospects of next season ; the scarcity of 

 the past season was to a certain extent one both of species and of 



