NOTES FROM BOURNEMOUTH. 2038 
New Copse, Stubby, and Ramnor) being traversed by two fairly 
experienced and active collectors during some eight or nine hours 
with only the above meagre result. Of such insects as Liparis 
monacha, Hurymene dolabraria, Phorodesma bajularia, Cleora 
glabraria, Lithosia quadra, Z. meliloti, not a single specimen 
was seen. 
In Bournemouth and neighbourhood a few species—such as 
Pachycnemia hippocastanaria and EHuthemonia russula, Nemoria 
viridata, Acidalia subsericeata and Plusia gamma—have appeared 
in fair numbers; but the great bulk of common species, and such 
as are usually taken at sugar, are quite as scarce here as elsewhere. 
On the evening of June 29th I had the good fortune to take, on 
our heath, a specimen of Heliothis peltigera; and Mr. Bright 
took another specimen, near the same place, two evenings later. 
A few years ago, having succeeded in establishing a colony of 
Psyche villosella in a quiet unfrequented corner of our heath, from 
which I bred several dozen males last season, I was in hopes of 
breeding a still larger number this; but a careful examination 
on several visits has disappointed my cherished expectations, and 
convinced me that the same causes that have proved so fatal to 
other Lepidoptera have been equally disastrous to my colony. 
A friend suggested, the other day, that the large increase of 
collectors during the last few years may account for the abnormal 
reduction in Lepidoptera. Local species confined to a limited 
area might be, and as we know have been, partially or temporarily 
exterminated, but the range of most species is so extended as to 
render it next to impossible for any number of collectors to effect 
any sensible diminution. A slight increase in the number of 
birds that prey upon insects would be infinitely more destructive, 
and I am told that birds were never known to be so numerous as 
they are now in the New Forest. I have never seen the trees, 
especially deciduous trees, so rich in foliage, nor vegetation so 
luxuriant, as at present; and here I think there is a ray of hope 
for the entomologist, for not only will the wealth of foliage and 
herbage afford abundant sustenance, but, what is equally im- 
portant, afford a protection to larve, that have, for the last two 
seasons, been exposed to countless enemies on leafless trees and 
bare stunted herbage. 
Bedford House, Bournemouth, July 16, 1883. 
