212 1 September, 



out in the last week of July with H. comma, so a second brood is not improbable 

 in a season like the present. — A. H. Hamm, 24, Hatherley Road, Reading : 

 July 24th, 1893. 



Macroglossa stellatarum. — This species has been unusually abundant here 

 this season, for on visiting a favourite spot for it I found them flying in profusion 

 to the flowers of the viper's buglos {Echium vulgare), and you only had to watch a 

 patch to secure a good series ; it is many years since they have been taken here in 

 any abundance, and then in nothing like the numbers this season. I have since 

 taken the larvae on both Galium mollugo and G. veriim, and they were to be found 

 in all stages at one time. Some few years ago I also found it feeding on G. palustre. 

 —Id. 



Zt/gcena trifolii. — In a recent number I called attention to the discovery by 

 Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher of the curious habits in larvae of Zyga&na trifolii, pf passing 

 more than one winter in that state. Mr. C. A. Bi-iggs draws my attention to a 

 similar and prior observation by his brother, Mr. T. H. Briggs, recorded in the Pro- 

 ceedings of the Entomological Society for 1875. This was, undoubtedly, an oversight 

 on my part. — Chas. G-. Barrett, Nunhead, S.E. : August \%th, 1893. 



Lepidoptera at Wiclcen Fen and Hunstanton. — June 14th to 22nd last I spent 

 at Wicken working the Fen and adjoining lane. Lepidoptera were fairly plentiful, 

 but there were only two really good nights at " light," those of the l4th and 17th. 

 On the former of these I took ten Nascia cilialis, and on the l7th fifteen more, 

 besides missing several. Other visitors included Maerogaster arundinis, Ptilodontis 

 palpina, Notodonta ziczac, Simyra venosa, Leucania pudorina in plenty, Hydralia 

 unca, PlusiafestuccB, Chilo mucronellus, with Herminia cribralis and Chilo phragmi- 

 tellns in plenty. Sugar was more attractive than appears to have been the case in 

 many parts of the country, as on most evenings a fair haul was made. Of " takeable " 

 species, Aplecta advena and Leucania pudorina took the lead in point of numbers, 

 both being very plentiful ; their companions were Thyatira derasa, Acronycta 

 megacephala, Leucania conigera, L. comma, Xylophasia hepatica, Mamestra anceps 

 plentiful, Apamea gemina abundant and variable, Agrotis puta, A. ravida taken the 

 first night and several afterwards, an unusually early time for the species, Hadena 

 adusta, Boarmia repandata a fine form, Timandra amataria common, and very many 

 other species, including a big ? Cossus ligniperda flying about a sugared tree trunk. 

 A notable absentee was Apamea unanimis, which is sometimes the most abundant 

 Noctua at Wicken in June ; I have seen all the sugared patches covei'ed with them, 

 probably thousands in a night, whereas this year not one was to be seen ! Mothing 

 on and about the Fen produced Collix sparsata, Herminia cribralis and Epione 

 apiciaria all in abundance, with Nola cucullatella, Hemithea thymiaria, Acidalia 

 immutata and several others of the genus ; Eupithecia subumbrata, Lobophora 

 sexalisata, Scotosia vetulata, S. rhamnnta, Paraponyx stratiotalis , Nemophora me- 

 taxella, Anesychia funerella, and many others. Larvae of Papilio Machaon, about 

 half to two-thirds grown, were feeding on the Peucedanum. One afternoon was 

 spent on Chippenham Fen, where the pretty Bankia argentula was out in plenty, 

 but little else was noted there. On the 22iid I went forward to Iluustauton for a 



