250 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
case of Lepidoptera is more noticeable than in other branches of 
Entomology. 
There are many species which are met with on the slopes of 
the hills, and some of them are generally to be seen in the greatest 
profusion ; and others occur abundantly, although perhaps not so 
conspicuous in appearance or habit. Most of these, without doubt, 
have been both last year and this anything but common, and, 
knowing what takes place, we at once jump to the conclusion that 
it is perfectly natural that the butterflies should become scarcer 
and disappear ; for how can it be otherwise when we see all these 
sloping hill-sides, which during the summer and autumn are 
covered with long coarse rough herbage which forms admirable 
feeding-ground for many larve, but which is untouched by sheep 
and cattle? As the winter comes on this dries up, and then on 
some fine night is found all ablaze. ‘The boys, either out of 
sheer wantonness, or sometimes by accident, set it on fire, and 
should the wind happen to be at all brisk, the fire travels, and 
acre after acre gets scorched or burnt ; and just as there happens 
to be more or less herbage so the ground gets more or less burnt, 
and is left all bare and blackened till the spring rains come. This 
must of necessity destroy a great quantity of insect-life, and how 
any escape at all seems a mystery. But still it remains that, 
although some species disappear or are very greatly reduced in 
numbers, others do not seem to be affected by it, but come forth 
in their ordinary numbers; all the butterflies that occur on these 
slopes have been most greatly reduced in numbers. Some I have 
not seen at all, but, on the other hand, Procris statices and 
Bombyx rubi have been if anything more abundant than usual, 
the fires which blazed away over the ground not seeming to have 
affected them. The Crambidz have also been abundant, and this 
is one of the things I cannot quite account for. 
Now, if we turn to the woods and downs, there appeared to be, 
in the spring, a great abundance of small moths, and Plusia gamma 
was as plentiful here as elsewhere; so also was Syrichthus alveolus. 
Argynnis euphrosyne was numerous, but A. selene altogether 
absent. A. paphia and A. adippe I have not seen, but A. aglaia 
made up in numbers for the absence of both. Vanessa cardui was 
common after hybernation, and many have occurred recently. V. io 
was very plentiful, but Nemeobius lucina and Thecla rubi very 
scarce ; while, strange to say, on August 10th 7’. w-album occurred 
