CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS, 827 



On August 28th, at Swanage, P. phl(«as was extremely plentiful, and very 

 red in colour. On August 31st, at Yarmouth, I.W., V. atalanta was more 

 plentiful than I have ever observed before, and I secured a dozen magnifi- 

 cent specimens. They were very fond of settling in the midst of a dense 

 jungle of brambles, an almost inaccessible place. On September 2nd, I 

 took Ennomos tiliaria at Bournemouth, on the gas-lamps. On September 

 10th, there were still some dozens of P. phlceas in our garden, they having 

 been there for some months. Not for the last eight years has there been 

 so many of this interesting insect in this district as during this last tropical 

 summer. On the whole, the past season has been the best by a long way 

 since 1884. Whenever I tried treacle, the Noctuse came in large numbers; 

 and although quality was never allotted to my patches, I am more satisfied 

 than ever with its attractive powers. My best evening occurred with a warm 

 torrential downpour of rain, which damped my skin, but not my ardour. — 

 F. W. Freir ; Elm House, Walthamstow, Essex, Oct. 4, 1893. 



PoLTOMMATUs (Lampides) bcetica AT HASTINGS. — A boautiful Speci- 

 men of this rare butterfly was captured at Hastings, during the third week 

 in September, by a boy about ten years of age. — W. Harcourt Bath. 



Catocala sponsa in S.W. London. — On the 18th September, a friend 

 of my brother took a specimen of Catocala sponsa in the Earl's Court Koad. 

 He saw it flying past, and struck at it with his hat. The insect, which I 

 now have, was rather spoilt by the blow it received, otherwise it appears to 

 be in fairly good condition.— A. H. Locock ; 26, Courtfield Gardens, S.W. 



[Probably an escape ; but the 18th of September is a very late date for 

 C. sponsa. — Ed.] 



COSMIA PALEACEA (EUPERIA FULVAGO) IN ShERWOOD FoREST. This 



year, again, has been a good one for the above species. I began on the 29th 

 of August, rather later than last year, my companion, as last year, being the 

 Rev. W. Beecher, of Wellow. Putting up at Edwinstowe, we sugared over 

 the old track, also trying a fresh ground, and were agreeably surprised to 

 see G. paleacea in considerable numbers, two and three being on one tree, 

 and all were in excellent condition, evidently just out. We also took 

 Epimda nigra, and many others. — W. Fkrris ; St. Matthew's Vicarage, 

 Nottingham. 



Macroglossa stellatarum at Bournemouth. — This species has been 

 unusually abundant here during the last two months, and is in fair con- 

 dition at present date. — W. McRae ; The Devonshire, Bournemouth. — 

 October 23, 1893. 



Leuoania extranea and L. vitellina. — During a somewhat pro- 

 longed visit to the Isles of Scilly this year, I had the good fortune to take 

 two specimens of L. vitellina and one of L. extranea in good condition. 

 They were all taken at sugar during the first week of September. — B. W. 

 Adkin ; Morden Hill, Lewisham, S.E. 



Vanessid^ in Lancashire, 1893. — Vanessa atalanta and V. urticcB 

 have been exceedingly abundant this year in Lancashire, especially the first 

 named. F. cardui, on the other hand, has been very scarce, as I have 

 only seen one specimen, whereas last year it was common. — Lionel Stones; 

 Northwood, Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, near Manchester. 



