140 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
own immediate neighbourhood comparatively untouched. 
Again, we well know that some localities are much more 
productive than others, even provided each has had the same 
amount of labour expended on it; for instance,—I want no 
prophetic knowledge to assure me that a day spent in the 
New Forest will undoubtedly be more remunerative than the 
same time spent in the fields in this locality ; yet, in the face 
of these facts, 1 do not hesitate to say that we often neglect 
places close at home, and the certainty of a moderate success, 
to run the risk of a total failure at a distance. Supposing we 
have collected in the same spot season after season, are we 
sure that we have detected every species to be found there? 
On the contrary, are we not often surprised at what we take? 
] have a case in point:—Last season I was walking through 
a fir-wood, where I have collected for some years past, and 
was greatly surprised at capturing a specimen of Macaria 
alternata, a species I had never dreamt of taking there 
amongst fir-trees, with no sallow in the neighbourhood; and, 
later in the season, as if in contrast, | beat out a specimen of 
the handsome and pine-loving Crambus pinetellus from a 
bush of spindle, where not a fir-tree stood. The only speci- 
men of Lobophora hexapterata I ever took was upon an 
extensive heath in this neighbourhood; but perhaps the 
most remarkable captures are two specimens of Agrotis 
valligera, which I took at heather-blooms in the same locality. 
The occurrence of the latter species upon heaths in this 
neighbourhood has been doubted by some to whom I have 
mentioned it; but I have only to say that the specimens are 
in my cabinet, and can be seen by any person. It is strange 
that such a coast-loving species should occur here; but it 
seems equally strange that the heath-loving Selidosema 
plumaria should be found upon the cliffs at Lulworth, where 
{ took two specimens a few seasons ago, when there for 
Hesperia Actezon. Thus it seems that no locality has been 
so thoroughly worked that the number of species actually to 
be found there are known positively, and the occurrence of 
a hitherto unsuspected species is no uncommon thing in any 
locality. The experience of many readers of this journal will 
undoubtedly bear me out in these remarks.—G. B. Corbin. 
