* THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The occurrence of a dwarf form of Eiichloe cardamines, 

 referred to by Mr. Cockerell, is not an isolated instance ; and 

 obtains in other species of the genus, notably E. euphenoides, 

 occurring in same locality and same time as the ordinary-sized 

 imago. I think it possible that the sparse foliage of the chief 

 food-plant, and its isolated manner of occurrence, may induce 

 semi-starvation of the larvae when several ova are deposited on a 

 small plant, and this would account for the large preponderance 

 of the male over the female specimens of these species. 



A concluding suggestion is thrown out by Mr. Cockerell; that 

 scarcity of nourishment may well tend to the elimination of 

 females, which from their size require ample nutrition. Against 

 this we may place the experiments of Yung on tadpoles, which 

 showed that in normal conditions the percentage of females was 

 only slightly in the majority. But by supplying more stimulating 

 foods of three descriptions, the percentage was raised in Lot 1 to 

 78, in Lot 2 to 81, and in Lot 3 to 92 per cent. It would be well 

 if entomologists having leisure would supplement our knowledge 

 by further experiments in this direction. 

 Sloperton Lodge, Kingstown, Ireland, November 12, 1890 . 



NOTES ON THE LEPIDOPTEEA OF THE CHILTERN 



HILLS. 



By a. J. Spiller. 



The Chiltern Hills, in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, 

 form a range of considerable elevation, their highest point being 

 close to Chinnor, where they attain a height of some 800 ft. 

 They are composed almost entirely of chalk, with in some places 

 a cap of gravel, upon which two common species of heath grow. 

 The district worked by me includes that portion of the range 

 extending from Princes Eisborough, in Bucks, to Watlington, in 

 Oxon, a distance of some eight miles. The scenery is exceed- 

 ingly grand, extensive beech-woods occupying large tracts on 

 this area. 



Every sweet, however, has its bitter, and the great drawback 

 to collecting in this neiglabourhood lies in the fact that all the 

 woods are strictly preserved, and likewise the idea impressed in 

 the minds of gamekeepers that persons engaged in collecting 

 insects or plants must primarily have designs upon rabbits or 

 " birds." My thanks are due to H. C. Brown, Esq., J. P., for 

 permission to collect in his beautiful woods. This permission 

 has frequently stood me in good stead, as I have on several 

 occasions seen entomologists expelled by obtuse-headed game- 

 keepers. 



