CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 93 



specimen of Calymnia pyralina ; and on the 18th a fine Plusia moneta 

 (previously recorded, Entora. xxxii. 212). Other trap captures during the 

 month included : — Lithosia lurideola (plentiful), Arctia caia, Bombyx 

 neustria, Drepana lacertula, Phalera bucephala (common), Bryophila 

 perla, Acronycta pisi, Leucania lithargyria, L. comma, L. pallens, 

 Dipterygia scabriuscula [pinastri], Cerigo matura, Caradrina morpheus, 

 C alsines, Rusina teuehrosa, Noctua augur, Hadena oleracea, Selenia 

 juliaria, Halia xvavaria, Lomaspilis marginata, Melanthia ocellata, 

 Cidaria associata, Pelurga comitata, and Aventia Jiexula. A few addi- 

 tional species were taken in the trap in August : Luperina testacea suddenly 

 appeared about the 8th, and was common for a few nights ; and Lopho- 

 pteryx camelina, Triphcena ianthina, and Epione apiciaria were also 

 noticed. From the middle of August to the end of September I was 

 away from home, and, consequently, was unable to do anything with the 

 trap during that period. In October Anchocelis pistacina, A. lunosa, and 

 Miselia oxyacanthce were captured ; and in November Asteroscopus sphinx 

 (one male) and Cheimatobia brumata. Several additional species came to 

 light at my window during the season, of which may be mentioned : — 

 Hybernia marginaria (common in March), Xylocampa lithoriza, Hadena 

 dentina, Calymnia trapezina, Ennomos tiliaria, Coremia unidentaria, and 

 Hydrcecia nlctitans. — Philip J. Barrard ; Bushey Heath, Herts, Feb. 

 2nd, 1900. 



Lepidoptera in 1899. — During the exceedingly mild and open winter 

 and early spring which we experienced last year, the common Geometrse 

 which put in an appearance at that season were very abundant in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Reading. The sallows in that district were mostly in full 

 bloom during the latter part of March, but nightly attention failed to 

 produce anything worth having. The most curious thing about the early 

 Noctuge was the extraordinary abundance of TcBiiiocampa stabilis, which 

 outnumbered all the other common moths by at least six to one. About 

 this time a few nice specimens of Selenia illunaria were attracted by the 

 lamp in a room. 



Early in April a fine specimen of Vanessa polychloros was found hyber- 

 nating in a greenhouse. This butterfly, which appears to be getting 

 scarce, was in remarkably fine condition for the time of year. 



The results of collecting during May and the earlier part of June were 

 decidedly disappointing, and, indeed, the only decent insects taken during 

 this period were three Chcerocampa elpenor, which were captured while 

 hovering over honeysuckle in the garden. About June 13th, when the 

 weather was beautifully fine, Macroglossa stellatarum was abundant, but 

 seemed to disappear again until the end of July. Sugaring produced 

 scarcely anything until the middle of July, when Cosmia diffinis, C. affinis, 

 Mania maura, and Cerigo cytherea were plentiful. I also took several 

 Oonoptera libatrix at sugar about July 20th, which seems to be rather an 

 early date for this species. On July 23rd a full-fed larva of Sinerinthus 

 ocellatus was brought to me, and on being placed in the breeding-cage 

 immediately disappeared beneath the soil. Kather earlier than this date 

 Pamber Wood was visited with small success, although several Vanessa 

 polychloros and one beautiful Limenitis sibylla were seen. Argynnis 

 paphia was also very plentiful. 



Aug. 8th found me at Bude, in Cornwall. The best locality for insects 

 there is the small strip of sand-dunes near the mouth of the haven. As no 



