132 [June, 



ill such a manner as to present the uncler-sides of the insects pinned 

 upon it to the action of the spray. The next thing to do is to find a 

 half ounce phial, which will fit the cork of the spray apparatus, and 

 then fill it with ether, to which two and a half grains of perchloride 

 have been added. 



As soon as the agent is dissolved, the operation should at once be 

 commenced, using the spray in such a way as to slightly damp each 

 insect, and this should be continued till all the solution is used up, 

 for which reason it is advisable to have a sufficient number of speci- 

 mens pinned on the strips in readiness ; but we must always remember 

 that as ether is very inflammable, naked lights must be kept out of 

 the way, and also that it is not desirable to prolong this work beyond 

 undue limits : the agent being a powerful alterative, and the solvent 

 an anaesthetic. 



Folkestone : April, 1894. 



Spring Lepidoptera. — The first day moths came under my notice this season in 

 any abundance was on February 10th, wlien Phigalia pilosaria and Hybernia leuco- 

 phcearia were observed on the north and east sides of the fence that encloses 

 Oatlands Park, near Weybridge ; the latter insect being in great profusion and very 

 variable. This species I record first on February 4th, and P. pilosaria (a ? ) on 

 January 11th. On February 10th a single Anisopteryx cescularia was also noticed, 

 and on the 16th Hyhernia progemmaria began to appear. 



During the hot weather that prevailed at Easter, which I spent at Midhurst, 

 Sussex, the hibernated Vanessce were to be seen in abundance, including V. poly- 

 chlor OS, which was common on March 25th between Midhurst and Haslemei-e. The 

 blossoms of the sallows were now teeming with moths, chiefly Tceniocampce, the 

 most noticeable being T. miniosa, of which a few were obtained. On the evening of 

 April 1st I was much interested to observe that the blossoms of the blackthorn on 

 Ashtead Common were visited in considerable numbers by Noctuce, chiefly T. cruda 

 and T.gothica and Cerastis vaccinii, which were in no ways disturbed by the rays of 

 the lantern, but could be jerked down into the beating tray quite easily, where, 

 however, they found the use of their wings more readily than do those that have 

 been feeding on the sallows. On the same evening Xyloeampa lithoriza and Eupi- 

 thecia ahbreoiata were met with. Since then, and during the entire month, nocturnal 

 Lepidoptera have been most unaccountably scarce in this neighbourhood, although 

 gas lamps and sugared trees have been frequently visited. The season is, however, 

 as evinced by the early Rhopalocera, a decidedly forward one, although not, of 

 course, comparable with 1893 in this respect. Yesterday (April 29th) I had the 

 pleasure of meeting with 14 species of butterflies in the vicinity of Dorking, in- 

 cluding Pieris rapcB and P. napi, Euchlo'e cardamines, Argynnis Euphrosyne, 

 hibernated specimens of Vanessa urticce and Gonepteryx rhamni, Ccenonympha 

 Pamphilus, Satyrus Egeria, NemeoMus Lucina, Thecia rubi, Polyommatus Phlceas, 

 Lyccena Argiolus, Thanaos Tages, and Hesperia alveolus. Of these, A. Euphrosyne 

 and L. Argiolus were first seen on the 22nd. Drepana unguicula was also observed 



