17 



subsequent note (" E. M. M.," 2nd series, vol, vii., p. 261) 

 Mr. Mathew records seven other specimens, and states that 

 if he had not been called away just at the time he would 

 probably have taken more examples of the species. Calo- 

 phasia platyptera, a Noctuid moth new to the British list, 

 has been recorded by Mr. Carrington. The specimen, which 

 is a male, was found near Brighton by the recorder, who 

 was at the time engaged in looking for Mollusca rather than 

 Lepidoptera. 



Argyresthia atmoriella, a species described by Mr. Bankes, 

 was beaten out of larch trees near King's Lynn, in June, by Mr. 

 Atmore ; Coleophora glitzella — although this species was first 

 bred in 1884 from larvae found on Vaccinium vitis-idcBa in the 

 spring of that year, its occurrence in Britain remained 

 unannounced until 1896 ; Gelechia suppeliella, a new species 

 named and described by Lord Walsingham, who points out 

 its distinction from G. peliella, the species for which it has 

 long been mistaken — these are all that are new in Micro- 

 lepidoptera for the year. 



A remarkable and at the same time exceedingly satisfac- 

 tory indication of the changes in progress is the great 

 interest British entomologists are taking in the study of that 

 larger insect fauna, of which the species occurring in these 

 islands constitute but a very insignificant moiety. Quite a 

 number of lepidopterists now spend a portion of each year in 

 collecting on the Continent of Europe, or in other places 

 where they can extend their practical knowledge of Palsearctic 

 Lepidoptera. 



Among other results accruing from these periodical excur- 

 sions of the English entomologist into foreign lands is the 

 degradation of species ; several have already been reduced, 

 and the specific rank of others is challenged, so that it is 

 quite possible that before long we may cause our confreres 

 abroad to be as much astonished at what they may probably 

 consider our effrontery in presuming to teach them entomo- 

 logy, as they certainly have been at our conservatism in the 

 past. No doubt it will at first appear novel to have English- 

 men among them elevating varieties to specific rank, and 

 reducing time-honoured species to mere varieties by a kind 

 of intuitive process ; but the foreign entomologist may be 

 depended on to see that the existing state of things is not 

 unreasonably disturbed. It may surely be predicted that 

 before many more years have run their course the majority 

 of entomologists in this country will have ceased to regard 

 Continental specimens of Lepidoptera as unworthy of their 



