24 



Was the 0. hircina fertilized by the 0. fusca and produced a plant with chamcteristies of the 

 latter, and other plants too delicate to live ? 



In IS98 the Wye Downs specimen was found, which has occasionally bloomed since. One or two 

 other specimens have also been found in the same neighbourhood, and reported in the local papers. 

 Unfortunately, it often happens that finders of a rare botanical specimen thoughtlessly pluck it 

 instead of reporting it to someone who would take steps to preserve it, and make a record of the find. 



It is well that interest should be aroused in the flora of our County, if it can be done without 

 leading to ruthless eradication of rare plants. 'It sometimes falls to the lot of a casual observer to 

 make a good find, of which nothing would be heard had not interest previously been aroxised by 

 announcements in the Press. 



In 1905 Miss Plumptre found a specimen near Predville, which was sent to Wye Colleg-e. The 

 same plant bloomed the following year, but in 1007 no trace could be found of it. 



The fine specimen found at Adisham in 190S (photographed by Mr. Lander, and which was 

 recently exhibited at ^-anterbury by Mr. C. Clarke, of Folkestone) has bloomed again this year, but 

 it was only about one-third the size. In 190S it was 30 inches high, the spike when fully out being 

 over 12 inches and containing over SO florets. Well might the late Mr. G. C. Oxenden describe it aa 

 the monarch of British orchids. Another good specimen was also found this year in the same 

 neighbourhood. Two others are also reported growing near together in the neighbourhood of Dover, 

 one of which was exhibited on Messrs. G. and A. Clark's stand at Holland Park Show. 



Postling, near Lyminge, can also boast of a specimen this year, but it was a poor one compared 

 with the others. 



Cypress Spurge (Eitphorbia cyparissias) , whose home is at Elm's Vale, near Dover — the only 

 station where it was regarded as a native — is fairly abundant at Barham Park, not far from the 

 Canterbury and Dover Road. 



Ambrosia trifida and Anchuso. ochroletica have again bloomed at Shepherdswell and Eythorne 

 respectively. 



J. JACOB. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES. 



Referring to my note at Page 12 of last year's Keport, it was afterwards found that the supposed 

 eggs of a spider were those of a coccid Eriopeltis festucw. The dipterous larva? feeding on them were 

 duly reared to maturity, several flies emerging at the end of last May. 



It was kindly named for me by Mr. J. E. Collin, of Newmarket, as Leucopis annxdipes, being of 

 much interest, the fly not being easy to flnd in the perfect state. The members of this genus were 

 knoifn to be parasitic on Coccidie and Aphidae. 



Mr. Collins informed me the genus Lciicopis was in an unsatisfactory condition systematically 

 and that he was glad to have confirmation of the breeding of any of the species ; moreover, the male 

 exhibits cliaracters not possessed by the female, and one of my bred examples (sent alive), being a 

 male, was of special value. Should have been glad to get more of the egg cocoons of Eriopeltis this 

 Autumn, bi\t the weather has been against long excursions, the locality where they occurred being 

 near Postling. 



In July last two examples of Botys hyal.inalis emerged in one of my cages, having been reared from 

 eggs laid nearly a year before (passing the Winter as larvce), but both being males and failing to flnd 

 the moth in its natural haunts, no more of the interesting e^^g^i were obtained in August for farther 

 observation. 



Another interesting insect that has come under my notice this year was Reduvins personatuz, 

 one of the Hemiptera. It was found the third week in June in a chemist's shop in the town and 

 brought to me for the name. It was not in the perfect state — the wings not being developed, and 

 covered with a lot of fluff on the back. Never having seen the creature before, could only say it was 

 one of the bugs in an immature stage. 



Dr. Cliapman, of Reigate, to whom I sent the creature alive, informed mo it was Reduvhis, and 

 that he had taken it abroad, but that this was the first living Britisli example he had seen. It was 

 returned to me that I might try to rear it, so many tales being told about it that rather wanted 

 confirming. Westwood says of this black bug, "The larva and pupa have the instinct to envelope 

 themselves in a thick coating of particles of dust (De Geer), aud so completely do they exercise this 

 habit that a specimen shut up by M. BnUlL-, and which had undergone one of its moultings during its 

 imprisonment, divested its old skin of its coat of dust in order to recover itself therewith." 



Saunders, in his Hemiptera of the British Isles, says of it, " generally distributed, but apparently 

 nowhere common. It is a destroyer of other insects, and is said to feed on Cimex lectularius, diptera, etc. 

 It is probably chiefly a night feeder, as it often flies to light in windows." 



I was therefore much interested in watching its habits, supplying it for some time with small live 

 flies, which it would lie in wait for and pounce on after the manner ot the hunting spider, and pierce 

 with its rostrum, sucking its poor victim dry. It was several weeks before a live Chnex was brought 

 to me, and then only an emaciated individual which Master Reduvius did not take much notice of at 

 first, even when the latter bug crawled over his back. Eventually, however, the Cimex was foimd 



