FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 197 



At Weymouth, 14th November, several humble bees 

 flying about quite lively. August 26th, Colias edusa flying in 

 garden, the only one seen. 



The swarms of flies, resembling columns of smoke at the 

 tops of the trees, were unusually dense and striking this year 

 in early August, several columns usually over one tree, but 

 some much larger than others. Some years ago I ascertained 

 by capture that similar columns were composed of Rhyphus 

 fenestralis, but whether both sexes were present I do not 

 know. (N.M.R.) 



NOTES ON INSECTS. 



By W.P.C., Poole. I did very little collecting this year 

 indeed, and the bulk of my outdoor work was devoted to 

 colour photography of lepidoptera in their natural positions of 

 rest, and to a series of observations on the attacks by birds 

 upon lepidoptera, upon both of which subjects further 

 information is much needed. 



The year opened with boisterous wet and cold weather, 

 which retarded everything ; but Hybernia marginaria put 

 in an appearance on January 19th, and Tortricodes hyemana 

 was about on the 16th February. 



We had severe frosts in the third week of February. 



The weather improved in March, and on March 15th both 

 Tephrosia bistortata and Chimabache fagella put in an appear- 

 ance ; however, on March 21st we had driving snow and hard 

 winds, followed by a slight return of warmth, which tempted 

 Vanessa io out for an airing, and a speedy relapse into gales, 

 cold, and rain. The early part of April I saw no insects, and 

 April 20th was the first really warm spring day, and 

 Gonepteryx rhamni turned out, being accompanied by 

 Micropteryx sepeella(?) On the 24th April Phycita fusca, 

 Anarta myrtilli, and Boarmia cinctaria were out in full force ; 

 Saturnia pavonia was flying about wildly. Hemeorophila 

 abruptaria Tceniocampa gothica and Eupithecia pumilata 

 were all seen at rest. The cold weather returned, but on 



