A VOICE FROM THE MINEHEAD VALLEY. 11 



Zeuzera cesculi ; Sesia tipuliformis was common on the currant 

 trees when the sun shone. 



Collecting during August has been quite a failure ; I have 

 never before experienced such a dearth in Lepidoptera. I tried 

 sugaring almost nightly ; but time after time I have returned 

 home without having boxed a single specimen. Vanessa atalanta 

 and V. cardui were the only Diurni to be found, but they have 

 been extremely abundant. My evening captures with the net 

 were also very disappointing, only Epione apiciaria, Crocallis 

 elinguaria, Ennomos tiliaria, E. fuscantaria, Scotosia dubitata, 

 S. rhamnata, C. spinula, Charceas graminis, coming under my 

 notice during the whole month. 



Taking everything into consideration I have no great cause 

 to complain of the season just drawing to a close ; but if we are 

 to consider that the abundance or scarcity of the autumnal larvae 

 has anything to do with next season, I am afraid collectors will 

 experience a much worse time than has been the case this year. 



40, Long Hedge Lane, Nottingham, Oct. 23, 1883. 



A VOICE FROM THE MINEHEAD VALLEY. 

 By the Rev. T. Seymouk St. John. 



An account of what I have been able to do in the ento- 

 mological hunting-grounds of this neighbourhood during the 

 "bad season" of 1883 may perhaps prove of interest. What I 

 have to record must not be taken as a criterion of what can 

 be done in this part of Somerset : first, because it is but the 

 account of one season ; secondly, my entomological experience 

 and knowledge are as yet limited ; and thirdly, I have not been 

 able to give the time to research and investigation which others 

 could. Still one of experience might, I believe, do great 

 things about here, although I am unable as yet to record the 

 capture of any great rarity, and write this in the hope that some 

 one may be induced to try. 



Standing on the top of the Quantock Hills, just above this 

 house, and looking over the valley towards Willett Tower and the 

 Brendon Hills, an entomologist would at once exclaim, "That 

 ought to be a rare part for Lepidoptera." So, indeed, it looks : 



