CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 265 



Insects of Northampton. — In the Northamptonshire volume of the 

 ' Victoria History of the Counties of England ' the lists of insects are 

 hardly so full or complete as those that have appeared in some other 

 volumes of the series. It would seem that little, if anything, is known 

 of the Orthoptera, Neuroptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera ; at all events 

 these orders are not included, and the editor states that he has been 

 quite unable to obtain lists of such insects. Very few species of 

 Hymeuoptera are recorded, and the list of Coleoptera would seem to 

 bo most incomplete. The Lepidoptera come out more satisfactorily, 

 but the groups usually referred to as "Micros" appear to have been 

 sadly neglected. It is certainly surprising that such interesting 

 families as the Pyralides and the Tortrices, for instance, should be so 

 little in favour with collectors. 



Butterflies of Derbyshire. — The Rev. Francis C. R. Jourdain 

 has published (Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society's 

 Journal, 1903) an annotated list of the butterflies that have been 

 observed in Derbyshire. Forty species are admitted, but the author 

 states that most of these "can only be regarded as rare or accidental 

 visitors, and only about fifteen species can be considered really 

 common anywhere." Papilio machaon, Cceiwnympha tyiihon, and Thecla 

 pnini, are also referred to, in brackets, as the evidence of their occur- 

 rence in the county is not satisfactory, while Sijrichthim malva; is men- 

 tioned as having been erroneously recorded in a previous list (Entom. 

 xxviii. 51). The English as well as the Latin names of the species 

 are given. 



' Practical Hints for the Field Lepidopterist.' — Of this ex- 

 ceedingly useful work, which has been produced by Mr. J. W. Tutt, 

 we have received Parts 1 and 2. The contents provide a considerable 

 amount of information concerning the possible lepidopterous work to 

 be done during each month of the year. The collector of experience 

 as well as the beginner will find the books packed with helpful items. 

 An index to the species mentioned in the work would probably have 

 been of general utility, and certainly a convenience to the reader. 



Aculeate Hymenoptera of Staffordshire. — This list, compiled by 

 the Rev. F. C. Jourdain, enumerates one hundred and thirteen species 

 as occurring in Stalfordshire (Transactions of the North Staffordshire 

 Field Club, 1903, pp. 81-87). 



CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 



Aberration of Lepidoptera. — With regard to Mr. Bellamy's report 

 (ante, p. 243), I have also obtained the yellow variety of Arctia caia. I 

 think, from my experience, and from information from friends, that 

 this year will be found to have been very productive of varieties. I 

 bred, from larvae obtained in my garden here, a complete melanism of 

 Abraxas r/rossnlariata ; the thorax is only slightly tinged with yellow. 

 "While at Eaglesclifte, in Durham, I got a series of Triphccna promiba, 



ENTOM. — OCTOBER, 1903. Y 



