156 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



seventeen respectively. It remains to be seen whether other species 

 appear in such profusion. By way of explanation I am inclined to 

 believe that the wonderful spell of weather last year caused such 

 abundance of insect life that the town birds (sparrows, &c.) which 

 keep such species as B. hirtaria in check had an ample supply of 

 food, and that the persecution of caterpillars was in consequence 

 below the normal standard. — E. Meldola ; 6, Brunswick Square, 

 W.C, March 30th, 1912. 



Laege "Coppers" in Wickbn Fen. — The late Mr. Verrall, it 

 will be recalled, was anxious to re-establish Ghry sophanus dispar 

 with its nearest existing representative C. rutilus. To this end he 

 caused to be "planted" in various parts of Wicken Fen a number of 

 larvae in the year 1909. I was at Wicken at Easter this year, and 

 called on Mr. G. Bailey, the son of Solomon Bailey, who died two 

 years ago, but who was responsible for the putting out of the larvae. 

 I learned from Mr. Bailey that not a single "copper" had been seen, 

 and that he accounted for the fact by the abnormally wet and cold 

 summers of 1909 and 1910. Even if the "coppers " had hatched, he 

 pertinently remarked that there was not a great deal of Bumex 

 hydrolapatlmm, their food-plant. In this matter Mr. Bailey is quite 

 correct, and as the water dock requires water to grow in, it does not 

 get much chance of spreading at Wicken, for except in the shallow 

 ditches it can scarcely find suitable spots, all the " lodes " or large 

 watercourses being kept clear of herbage for the adequate drainage 

 of the land. This, however, is a secondary matter ; but if further 

 attempts be made to establish large " coppers," it should be borne in 

 mind that scarcity of the food-plant will be a factor acting against 

 success. — W. J. Kaye ; Caracas, Ditton Hill, Surbiton. 



Paraege egeeia : Early Appearance. — This species was seen 

 in the New Forest at Eastertide, and about April 22nd it was quite 

 common. I am indebted to Mr. W. J. Lucas for these facts. — 

 BiCHARD South. 



Callopheys (Thecla) rubi : Eaely Appearance. — April 21st 

 would appear to be an early date for the emergence of Thecla rubi in 

 a northern locality. I have pleasure in recording the capture by Mr. 

 A. Graveson of three newly-emerged specimens on the neighbouring 

 high-lying moorland, 1000 ft. elevation. The previous earliest 

 mention of the species in my diary is May 4th. The weather of the 

 past week has been exceptionally warm and summer-like. — Frank 

 LiTTLEWOOD ; 10, Aynam Eoad, Kendal. 



[Mr. Lucas informs me that a specimen of Callophrys rubi was 

 seen in the New Forest on April 18th. — R. S.] 



Pyrameis cardui in April. — This morning, while out walking, 

 I saw, and nearly caught, a large specimen of Pyrameis cardui 

 settling on dandelions along the roadside. Would this be an early 

 immigrant or a hybernated specimen ? In ' Butterflies of the British 

 Isles ' it is stated that, so far as is known, the butterfly does not 

 hybernate. I don't know therefore whether you would consider this 

 worth recording or not. The mildness of the climate here might 



