﻿NOTES AND CAPTURES. 259 



specimen actually was seen, but not taken, by an entomologist staying in 

 the village. On comparing notes with him I found that, badly as we had 

 fared, his bag was still scantier, and all the resident collectors with whom I 

 conversed were unanimous as to the dearth of Lepidoptera this year. — 

 E. G. Alderson ; Worksop, Notts. 



Captures in the Brighton District. — With the primary object of 

 obtaining specimens of Agrotis cinerea this year, I went down to Brighton 

 on the 26th of May, and again on the 7th of June. On the first occasion I 

 could only find one example of the particular insect I was in quest of, and 

 this was a male specimen. The second expedition was attended with better 

 success, as I found several pairs of the species, in splendid condition, sitting 

 about on the Downs. I also captured a few more or less worn males, which 

 were attracted to the light of my lamp. I may mention that the usually 

 common species of Pieris appeared to be curiously rare, but Euchloe 

 cardamines was neither more or less common than in other years when I 

 have collected on the same ground. Nemeobius lucina and Thecla rubi were 

 common on the 26th of May, but Macroglossa fuciformis and M. bombyli- 

 formis were both very scarce on that date. — H. McArthur; 35, Averill 

 Street, Fulham, S.W. 



Lepidoptera in Oxfordshire. — So far the season has been below 

 the average, but some few species have been abundant. Thecla rubi 

 appeared in abundance ; so plentiful were they at the end of May that it 

 would have been possible to have taken hundreds in a day. Ino geryon 

 also was fairly plentiful. I captured about 200 specimens in a few evenings, 

 and then left the remainder to breed. I failed to find this species on the 

 hills attaining a height of 800 feet ; but the lower slopes, especially the 

 glades in beech woods, were the places for it. Among the butterflies plentiful 

 this season have been Argynnis euphrosyne, N. tages, S. malvce (alveolus), 

 L. astrarche (agestis), L. minima (alsas). L. argiolus appeared sparingly. 

 The July Fritillaries have not yet put in an appearance, owing probably to 

 the wet weather. I caught over 200 N. plantaginis last week. This 

 species is also very local, aud frequents one wood only ; searching in other 

 woods proved a failure. In its particular haunts, however, it was a grand 

 sight to see any number at the same time on the wing, and I am sure I do 

 not exaggerate when I state that some thousands must have been hatched 

 this year in that locality. — A. J. Spiller ; Chinnor, Oxon, July 3, 1890. 



Abnormal Epinephele ianira. — I see that Mr. Pearce, in his " Con- 

 tributions to the Entomology of the Portsmouth District " (Entom. 230), 

 says of Epinephele ianira : — " I have a very curious male, taken on 

 Portsdown Hill in 1888 ; the right upper wing appears to have been tied 

 round the centre in some way whilst developing." About a fortnight ago, 

 on the 5th of this month, I captured a male of this species in Enfield, with 

 the right upper wing wrinkled up round the centre in precisely the same 

 manner. It was unable to fly much but kept on fluttering along in the 

 grass, which drew my attention to it. — H. D. Sykes ; " The Cedars," 

 Enfield, July 19, 1890. 



Note on the Life-History of Bombyx quercus v. callun^e. — 

 A few observations concerning the life-history of this species may be in- 

 teresting to entomologists. On August 15th, last year, a female was 

 captured at rest, which deposited a large batch of ova. After hatching 



