282 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
so common since 1879. On Wednesday, the 17th, dozens could 
be seen flying, although the wind was strong, and the gusts came 
and blew the insects frequently into the high hedges and some 
into the grass, so that I could pick them up; they were good 
specimens. It has been recorded that Plusia gamma was ex- 
tremely common in September, being the second brood. I 
believe from observations that the later brood is always more 
numerous than the earlier. Possibly the summer weather is 
favourable for its better development of the larve, &c., and so 
larger numbers are ensured. Several species of Diptera have 
been more than usually abundant this autumn on the flowers, 
chiefly Composite, in my garden; among them were Syrphus 
balteata, S. ribesii, Eristalis tenax, H. nemorum, E. similis, and 
Helophilus frutetorum. Tipula oleracea has been quite a pest 
in some fields near here; it literally swarmed. — Hrerserr S. 
Norris; St. Ives, Hunts, October 18, 1883. 
ARGYNNIS LATHONIA AT Dover.—Thinking it not improbable, 
after last year’s ‘‘takes,” that A. lathonia might put in an 
appearance here this season, I resolved to pay another visit, 
hoping that I might again take this little rarity; but not a trace 
of it was to be met with at the localities of either last or former 
years, although numerous collectors were from time to time on 
the ground, and we were favoured with some really mag- 
nificent weather. I am, however, pleased to record several 
captures at a spot some distance removed from last season’s 
by Mr. Bayley, one of the collectors who was successful in 1880. 
Mr. Bayley informed me one day that he had seen A. lathonia, 
but, having no net with him at the time, was consequently 
unable to secure it. He kindly directed me where to go, but I 
unfortunately misunderstood him, and spent two or three more 
days searching in vain; and when next I saw him I heard that 
he had taken four, two on the 14th inst. and two on the 15th, 
one, a female, having large and somewhat confluent spots on the 
fore wings, giving the insect rather a striking appearance. When 
I did succeed in finding the place the weather had changed, and 
we were seldom favoured by the sun, whose shine had heretofore 
been so constant, and although I saw one A. lathonia I was 
unable to overtake or capture it. Most provokingly (for me) the 
sunny intervals generally occurred when I was absent some 
distance from the ground, and by the time of my return the sky 
