NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 207 
where they are usually so plentiful that a few hours’ sport is 
generally sufficient to satisfy the most ardent advocate of the 
exchange system. One’s hopes naturally turn to the other “‘ good 
things” found on the wing there at this season, but only to 
be again met with disappointment. Such species as one naturally 
expects to find—as Selenia illustraria, Acidalia inornata, Hyria 
auroraria, Acosmetia caliginosa, Heliothis dipsacea, Lithosia 
mesomella, Liparis monacha—were not on view; and a very small 
number of Ypsipetes impluviata, Hubolia palumbaria, E. men- 
suraria, Hemithea thymiaria, failed to make amends for Boarmia 
roboraria, Huthemonia russula, Heliothis dipsacea, and Aspilates 
strigillaria; nor did an occasional Zygena filipendule tend to 
lighten the gloom in our minds caused by the absence of Z. meli- 
lott. “Try the flowering ragwort, the waving grass-tops, the 
sweet-scented, ever tempting bloom of the bramble,” wrote a 
kind entomologist to whom we had written; but his advice, 
although strictly followed, proved useless, except in one solitary 
case, When we found, on the undergrowth near an alder, a few 
Geometra papilionaria. An occasional A. aversata, Melanthia 
albicillata, Pseudopterpna cytisaria, Phorodesma bajularia, B. re- 
pandata, were seen, but few and far between; and but one or two 
of Pericallia syringaria, Cleora lichenaria, and Selenia illunaria, 
were secured. A visit to these parts without seeing a few 
Leucania turca, L. quadra, Catocala promissa, and even C. sponsa, 
on the sugared trees, is certainly worth recording, for every account 
of a visit at this season is almost sure to number them in its list. 
Such an account as that given above ought to be explained by 
those who profess to know all about the cause and effect of the 
abundance or scarcity of species; and although I refrain from 
venturing an opinion at present upon the reason of such abnormal 
scarcity, yet I shall be pleased to hear the opinion of those who 
are generally looked upon as being able to elucidate such 
questions; for the usual answer that “things are scarce” is 
hardly, to my mind, a satisfactory one-—W. H. Wricurt; 
Secretary’s Department, Inland Revenue, Somerset House, W.C. 
Norres rrom Yorx.— Seeing that the reports from the South 
of England are very discouraging as to the scarcity of Lepi- 
doptera for that part of the season already past, I have thought 
that a few notes from the North might be of some interest 
to entomologists, at the same time feeling sorry that the efforts 
