300 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



than sixteen examples fone dating as far back as 1806), ranged from 8s. to 

 20s, according to condition and history. Two nearly black Limenitis sibylla, 

 in fair condition, were disposed of at £1 15s. each. The great feature of the 

 sale was the magnificent series of Chrysophaniis {Polyommatus) dispar, 

 of which there were thirty-one specimens (16 males and 15 females). 

 These were sold separately; the eighteen examples (male and female), 

 offered on the first day of the sale, realised from £0, lOs. (once) to £Q 10s. 

 (twice), and the thirteen (male and female) put up on the second day went 

 for from £2 5s. to £5 10s. ; the total sum for the entire series being 

 £IS2 10s., equal to an average of about £1 5s. per specimen. Four lots 

 of Lycana semiargus [acis), five pairs in a lot, were sold at £i 5s., £i, and 

 £5, and £4 5s., about an average of eight shillings per specimen. Another 

 pair of L. semiargus, together with sixty L, alms and forty L. argiolus, 

 produced 25s. A fine series of fifty-three L. arion were sold in lots 

 of from five to twelve examples in a lot, and realised about Ss. 6d. a 

 specimen. Space will not admit of reference to the Heterocera, but these 

 will be reported on in the January ' Entomologist.' — R. S. 



CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 



Notes from North-east Hampshire. — Vanessa cardui seems to have 

 been conspicuous by its absence this summer, though some of the hyber- 

 nated ones were seen in the spring. Until to-day I had not met with it, 

 but I saw a single specimen in a warm sheltered corner this afternoon ; I 

 looked in vain for others. It has been a very curious season altogether, as 

 far as butterflies are concerned especially. The larvae of V. io and F. 

 urticcB were in countless numbers in this district, and an unusual quantity 

 of hybernated imagines of V. loolychloros were noted in the spring. What 

 has become of everything? I believe, with others to whom I have spoken 

 on the subject, that the birds and the swarmfe of wasps made away with all 

 the larvae and pupae in the unusually dry summer. The only butterflies 

 numerous in this locality have been Vanessa atalanta and Polyommatus 

 phlceas ; the latter seems to have been unusually plentiful everywhere. I 

 may note that I saw cole tits hawking among the oak-trees after imagines 

 of Thecla quercus. I never observed this before. Evidently the birds had 

 a bad time of it, and devoured anything they could get hold of. Butterflies 

 appear to have suffered chiefly, probably from the exposed habits of the 

 larvae and pupae; but many moths also, plentiful here in previous years, 

 were scarce or quite wanting. Notable exceptions were Calymnia diffinis, 

 unusually common at sugar, Catocala nup)ta,lhQ inevitable Apamea didyma 

 {A. hasilinea, quite rare), and Noctua xanthographa ; while later on Macro- 

 glossa stellatarum appeared in considerable numbers, Agrotis segetum in 

 swarms, and Pterophorus monodactylus turned up in quantities both at 

 sugar and ivy. (Jan the hosts of Agrotis segetum owe their happy 

 immunity from the bill of their enemy, the rook, to the hard state of the 

 ground, which must have prevented the birds from digging under the 

 turnips? In many ways the season of 1893 has been a very extraordinary 

 one, and insects have appeared at most unexpected times. Among other 

 startling captures, I may mention those of Acronycta rumicis on July 26th, 

 and again early in September, and of Leucania comm.a (a fine fresh 



