NOTES ON COLLECTING. 183 
Notes From Maceponia, 1917.— Between March 28rd and 
May 10th, I have had opportunities for doing occasional collecting 
from four different centres. I have had the good fortune to succeed in 
eapturing every species of butterfly that I am conscious of having seen 
on the wing. So far, thirty-seven species have been recognised. All 
things go into papers as soon as they are brought home, so that close 
comparisons are not always possible, and the total may really be 
greater. About twenty-two of the number I believe to be British, but 
do not care to venture to give many names at present, as my knowledge 
of British species is very imperfect, and that of their European allies 
is practically nil. The thirty-seventh species came to hand only a few 
days ago, as a badly battered specimen, with only three wings, of 
_ Pararye aegeria. A thirty-eighth of probably Macedonien origin, I found 
in a letter I had for censoring, Aglais urtice, though so far I have not 
recognised this on the wing. I passed it on as of “no value to the 
enemy.” I have as yet found no locality where any species has been 
abundant, even Piers brassicae appearing in quite moderate numbers in 
village gardens. A few are extremely local, anda certain Chrysophanus 
I have not yet seen off a three-acre patch. Colias edusa is widely 
distributed, but I have only secured two of the var. helice and no 
others of this genus. The commonest butterfly so far has been a 
« blue,” which I think I recognise as British. It first appeared on 
March 23rd, and is apparently still hatching. J have seven species 
of “blues,” and six “skippers.” Rumicia (Chrysophanus) phlaeas occurs 
everywhere. This was on the wing when I arrived on March 28rd, 
_and is still going strong. Quite recently I received a quite fresh male 
which is a very near approach to the form I described from the 
Canadian Rocky Mountain region under the name arethusa. This 
differs from the typical form in its larger size and is dark fuscous 
bronze. I believe it to be the form known in Europe and Asia as eleus. 
I hope to get more of this. 
The only Argynnid so far observed is apparently Issoria lathonia. 
This has been flying since April 1st, and is still in its prime. Of the 
Vanessidae I have seen hybernated Vanessa io, Hugonia polychloros, 
Polygonia c-album, Pyrameis atalanta, and P. cardui. The latter has 
increased in numbers lately, and can be seen on the wing after sunset. 
I have seen no Theclid yet except Callophrys rubi, and no Papilio but 
P. podalirius. Of the three common British “ whites,” Pieris napi 
has been very scarce, and I have taken another species unknown 
to me which recalls the North American sisymbri, It  re- 
- mains to be seen later whether I have P. manni. Leptosia sinapis 
_has not been rare, but is short-lived. Of the moths I have less 
to say, as I find species even harder to recognise with certainty. 
_ Sesia (Macroglossa) stellatarum was on the wing when J arrived. It 
used to come and look in at the carriage windows when the train 
stopped. I have seen very few lately, and those badly worn. Saturnia 
pavonia, one 2 taken, and a few more, probably this species, seen on © 
the wing. 
; My list of Noctwidae does not exceed 16 species, about half of those 
represented by only a single specimen. They include Agrotis (Huwoa) 
puta, Plusia gamma, FEuclidia glyphica, Heliothis armigera (1), 
_ A. dipsacea, and Dipterygia scabriuscula (1). As might be expected, 
the Geometrae have shewn up a little better, and I have probably some 
