FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 143 



by him in Poole Park, and Mrs. E. Hudson, of Parkstone, 

 obtained a second specimen about the same time. This 

 insect is decidedly rare in Dorset, according to my experience. 

 On 20th June I took Eupisteria obliterata at Canford. 



On the 27th June, which was a hot day, I noted Pieris 

 rapae drinking at a reservoir after the manner of a swallow. 

 There were several, and they dipped to the surface and took a 

 drink, rising again and repeating the process. On the 2nd 

 August I took 5 Coenocalpe vittata on Handley Down near 

 Cranborne, and on 13 September 5 Dicranura bifida cocoons 

 at the same place. On the 20th September Pyrameis atalanla 

 and Pyrameis cardui were not uncommon, and on September 

 27th Nomophila noctuella was abundant in Purbeck. In 

 the latter part of October I saw a single quite fresh male 

 Colias edusa. On 1st November I saw P. atalanta sunning 

 itself on rhododendron bushes which were then in bloom, 

 and on the 27th December I saw a specimen of Erastalis 

 tenax sunning itself on a piece of galvanized iron roofing. 



(17). The records of April 4 and April 8 to the credit of the 

 late Mr. J. C. Mansel-Pleydell and of April 8 by Mr. E. S. 

 Rodd, which last record has been questioned by Mr. N. M. 

 Richardson, are in fact the earliest recorded dates. I have 

 myself rejected April 21 as a possible date, in this very report. 

 I do not quite understand, having regard to the known life 

 history of this insect, how it is possible to explain the records 

 except on the basis of mistaken identity. None of the 

 records in question stand in the name of a lepidopterist. 

 Being a lepidopterist myself and knowing the ease with which 

 mistakes as to identity may be made, especially if an insect 

 be moving, I feel no very great reluctance in stating that I do 

 not believe the records to relate to Epinephele jurtina. They 

 may possibly relate to Parage egeria v. egerides, to Parage 

 megaera, or to Aglais urticae, which if worn and faded might 

 be mistaken by anyone who was not a collector of lepidoptera. 



