NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 357 



(i), SO that the last mentioned was apparently the commonest larva on the 

 birches. With regard to the common larvae, which are usually too plentiful 

 in suburban gardens, I am able to say that I have not noticed either 

 Spilosoma menthastri or S. luhricipeda, and only one of Hadena oleracea. 

 The larvse of the commonest species of the genus Acronycta appear to have 

 been very scarce; and I have not seen Orgijia antiqua iu any of its stages. 

 Surely the early and prolonged heat of the past summer cannot be alone the 

 cause of this strange dearth of larvae. — Alfred T. Mitchell ; 5, Clayton 

 Terrace, Gunnersbury, N., Oct. 2, 1893. 



British Butterflees. — Will readers of the * Entomologist ' kindly 

 inform me what is the largest number of species of Rhopalocera they have 

 met with in this country in any single day in each month of the year? 

 Specification of the locality would also be useful. I should likewise be glad 

 of similar information for each month of the present season. — W. Harcourt 

 Bath ; 195, Ladywood Road, Birmingham. 



Abundance of Chysophanus phlceas in 1893. — This butterfly has 

 been exceedingly plentiful during the present season in every locality 

 visited by myself in South Britain, although it has been scarce for 

 several years previously. — W. Harcourt Bath. 



Abundance of Aleurodes brassic^, Walk. — This little snow-white 

 insect has this year appeared in such extraordinary abundance amongst the 

 garden cabbage as to be a perfect pest. My gardener told me that one day, 

 while hoeing amongst the cabbages, he had to run away, as he was beset 

 with a swarm of these little pests, which got into his eyes, nose, and mouth. 

 Even when the cabbages are washed for dinner there are thousands of these 

 little insects floating on the top of the water. The only insect I have ever 

 known to equal them in numbers is a fly, Sepsis hilaris. After sweeping 

 grass in woods I have known my net so full of them as to appear like a ball. 

 Whether this little pest has appeared in such extraordinary abundance all 

 over England, or only in Dorset, I do not know. Perhaps some of your 

 other correspondents will enlighten us. It belongs to the Homoptera, and 

 is allied to the Aphidse.— C. W. Dale ; Glanvilles Wootton, Nov. 3, 1893. 



The Field Cricket (Gryllus campestris). — Will readers of the 

 ' Entomologist ' kindly inform me the names of all the localities where they 

 know this local insect to exist? Any information concerning its habits 

 would also be very acceptable. — W. Harcourt Bath. 



Nocture and Flowering Grasses. — Anent the communications of 

 your correspondents, Messrs. G. 0. Day and H. E. Taylor [ante, pp. 229, 

 321), respecting the attractiveness of the flowers of certain grasses, it may 

 interest your readers to be reminded that, just half a century ago, in the 

 pages of the 'Zoologist,' 1843, p. 64, and also in his charming little book, 

 ' The World of Insects,' p. 86, my old friend Douglas wrote as follows : — 

 " On the evening of the 20th of August last, Mr. Bedell and myself were 

 returning from mothing in the fields between the Kent Road and Greenwich 

 railway, having had but very little success, when a moth was seen to rise 

 from the grass, and, being caught, proved to be Graphiphora 2)unicea (now 

 bella) [which is to say, Noctua rubi of the present day]. We next began to 

 sweep the grass, and were surprised to find moths, not singly or in dozens, 

 but by hundreds. The next night saw us there with lanterns and other 

 necessary apparatus, and if we were surprised the previous night, we were 



