CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 267 



would like to know that F. cardui is extremely abundant to the north- 

 west of Ipswich, Suffolk, and probably all over the county. One clover 

 field I passed through yesterday was alive with them, and hosts of 

 Plusia yamma. Both species were worn. — Ed. G. J. Sparke; Sept. 25. 



Pyrameis cardui in Tooting. — A fine specimen of P. cardui was 

 flying about the garden here all yesterday. I have not seen the 

 species here for some years, although larvae used to breed regularly on 

 the thistles in an adjoining field. — E. G. J. Sparke; 1, Christchurch 

 Villas, Tooting Bee Road, Tooting, S.W., Sept. 21st, 1903. 



Heliothis armigera and Plusia moneta at Lewes. — A specimen 

 of H. armigera occurred here on a street lamp on August 26th last. 

 It was taken by Mr. Jarvis of this town, who has also during this 

 season recorded the first example of Plusia moneta captured in Lewes. — 

 Hugh J. Vinall ; Lewes. 



Vagaries of the Season. — While beating nearly full-fed larva of 

 Abraxas sylrata near Lewes on September 19th last with a friend, we 

 were surprised to see a beautiful specimen of the perfect insect sitting 

 on a leaf. We had taken this species in plenty during the first 

 fortnight of July, and tattered specimens as late as July 25th, but 

 had not seen the insect since. I have never heard of this species 

 being double-brooded, but the fine condition of the insect taken pointed 

 to its very recent emergence. The season has been marked by other 

 vagaries. Noctua plecta and Plusia gamma were taken at sugar on 

 April 6th, both very fresh, and apparently not hybernated specimens. 

 This is also borne out by the fact that a larva of PhlogopJwra meticulosa, 

 brought to me about January 10th, pupated, and, though kept in a 

 cold room, emerged on March 14th. On the other hand, during the 

 latter part of the season, some species have been very late, and a friend 

 reports Tlujatira batis at sugar in Kent as late as September 9th. — 

 Hugh J. Vinall ; Lewes. 



[The season has undoubtedly been an erratic one, and many ex- 

 amples of its effect upon insect life must have come under the 

 observation of our readers. It is to be hoped that other instances of 

 abnormal dates will be recorded. We may mention that Phlogophora 

 meticulosa has been previously noted as occurring in the moth state as 

 early as February and as late as December. Full-grown larvaB of the 

 species have also been found in January (Entom. xxxiv. 131). — Ed.] 



Abundance of Pyrameis cardui. — The strong south-easterly winds 

 which have been blowing continuously on this coast for the past four 

 days have brought an immense number of this species across the 

 North Sea. Two days ago not one was to be seen, but to-day, notwith- 

 standing that there has been scarcely any sun, they were in hundreds 

 everywhere. It is strange that they should be so plentiful, after the 

 detestable weather that has done duty for the past summer both here, 

 and, I believe, on the northern parts of the Continent also. These 

 are not freshly hatched butterflies, as many of them are worn and 

 torn ; nor are they likely to be immigrants, for immigration, I think, 

 as a rule, only occurs after a long continuance of hot weather, and 

 when it is calm ; they are simply wanderers blown across the sea, 

 whether they wished it or not. Plusia gamma, of which only a few 



