195 



CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 



Endromis versicolor at Reading. — It is with great pleasure that 

 I report a capture of this glorious insect, on April ISth, after some three 

 or four hours' hard searching. I also found a couple of ova laid near the 

 moth, and since have obtained a fair number from ray captive. On the 

 same day, and on the same ground, I saw single specimens of E. versicolor 

 (male), and Brephos parthenias, but was unable to capture either of them. 

 Two specimens oi Ematurga atomaria also turned up (this I should imagine 

 is abnormally early?). — C. J. Nash; Pitnacree, Culver Road, Reading. 



Vanessa c-album in South Wales. — While staying at Hay, Breck- 

 nockshire, this April, I took a hybernated male specimen, in good condition, 

 of this insect, in Dany Forest, and a female specimen in Boatside Wood, 

 on the banks of the Wye. I also saw another specimen in this wood, but 

 was unable to capture it. Both insects were taken on dullish days, and 

 were disturbed from the long herbage. On flying they soon settled on 

 a tree-trunk, making their capture easv. — A. D. Simms; Birmingham, 

 May 2nd, 189G. 



Plusia FESTUCiE I CoNFLUENT Spot Form. — I have just received a 

 specimen of P. festucm in which the spots are confluent, from Mr. J. 

 Collins, of Warrington. — J. Arkle; 'Z, George Street, Chester, April 27th. 



CucuLLTA VERBASci AT REST. — On April 19th I took an example of 

 this species at rest. This is the first time I have ever met with the 

 perfect insect in a state of nature. — W. M. Christy; Watergate, Ems- 

 worth, Hants. 



New Forest, Spring 1896. — I had four days' collecting at Easter 

 in the New Forest, with two of my brothers. The weather was very 

 favourable, and in the day time, by searching the trunks and palings, we 

 secured the following insects: — Trachea piniperda, Xylocampa lithorhiza 

 (very common), Xylina rhizolitha (two), Tephrosia biundularia (plentiful), 

 Larentia rnuJ tint rig aria, Hybernia progemmaria, Eupithecia abhreviata. 

 Brephos parthenias was only occasionally seen, but Gonopteryx rhamni was 

 very much in evidence. The sallows were almost over, but yielded a good 

 series of Taniocampa miniosa and Trachea piniperda. We also took a 

 few TcB7iiocampa munda, Lobophora lobulata, Anticlea badiata, and single 

 specimens oi Oporina croceago, Noctua plecta (surely an unusual visitor 

 to the sallow bloom), Cidaria miata, and TcBniocampa populeti. A few 

 larvae of Epunda lichenea, Cleora glabraria, and EUopia fasciaria fell to 

 the beating-stick. — C. M. Wells; Hurstfield, The Avenue, Gipsy Hill, 

 April 26th, 1896. 



Butterflies in the Chester District. — Pieris brassic(B, scarce 

 during 1894 and 1895. I saw only one female last season, and three or 

 four males. Vanessa urtica, undoubtedly abundant in 1895. V, atalanta, 

 scarce ; I saw only two specimens. V. io, much less observed than in 1894. 

 Polyommatus phlceas, unusually abundant in places like Beeston Castle hill : 

 specimens with row of blue spots, from two to four, on hind wings aod 

 parallel with inner margin of red band, common. Ccenonympha pamphilus, 

 common, as usual ; I took, in North W^ales, a male of this species with the 

 usual dark borders to ail wings, large black apical spot on each fore wing. 



