Insects. 1085 



the 13th of June I proceeded to Lewes for the purpose of capturing Ino Globulariae. 

 The whole of the 14th was spent in carefully examining the Downs, but without suc- 

 cess. On the 15th, Mr. S. Stevens joined me, and we each took one. On the 16th 

 I took three males and one female, the first ever recorded as taken in England. The 

 next day, I fortunately discovered a flock within a few yards of the spot where the 

 others had been captured, and from which they were evidently stragglers. I soon se- 

 cured a sufficient number for my own cabinet, and have a few left for my friends. 

 The locality where these were found, was the side of a hill sloping towards the south- 

 east, and having three small terraces a short distance above each other, where the her- 

 bage was much longer than on the more abrupt parts of the slope. The female is far 

 more rare than the male, and as she seldom flies, is only to be taken with a sweeping- 

 net. From my observation of the species, I infer that it is decidedly gregarious, but 

 extremely local, so much so, indeed, that the most careful entomologist might search 

 the Downs for days without seeing it, although at the time of its appearance. On the 

 16th, in the same valley, I took one specimen of Agrotis cinerea on a sugared ash- 

 tree, and by sweeping, one of Crambus pygmaeus. — </. Jenner Weir ; 17, Grosvenor 

 Park North, Camberwell, June 14, 1845. 



Capture of Polia occulta near Manchester. On the 26th inst., whilst on an ento- 

 mological excursion about four miles from here, in Cheshire, I was most agreeably 

 surprized to see a fine male specimen of Polia occulta resting upon a brick. I com- 

 pared it with Mr. Curtis's figure, and find it to correspond iu every respect. — Jas. B. 

 Hodgkinson ; Dixon St., Hulme, Manchester, July 28, 1845. 



Note on Erastria venustula. On (he 29th of June, whilst walking with a friend 

 through a heathy part of the forest, I observed several specimens of this pretty little 

 species, flying over and alighting upon the common fern : not having any entomologi- 

 cal apparatus with me, except a couple of pill-boxes, I only secured two specimens. 

 The next day I again visited the spot, but could not see a single individual. Mr. 

 Bentley informs me that his father captured this insect in our forest more than forty 

 years ago ; but I believe no one has since met with it in Britain, except myself, at 

 least, I am not aware of any other captures. — Henry Doubleday ; Epping, July 24, 

 1845. 



Miana strigilis and Mthiops. In the July number (Zool. 1006), Mr. Harding has 

 made some remarks on these insects, which are not altogether correct, or only applica- 

 ble to certain localities. Here, both insects appear simultaneously, are always found 

 together, and exhibit every conceivable shade of colour, from the clear black and white 

 of strigilis to the dull sombre hue of Mthiops. They continue on the wing for some 

 weeks. I saw both for the first time this year on June 3 ; and last night (July 23) I 

 shook fine and perfect specimens of both from the blossoms of the lime. I have raised 

 a great number of both from larvae which exhibited little or no difference from each 

 other ; in fact, have done all in my power to satisfy myself as to their specific identity 

 or distinction, and must say I can only consider them varieties of one species. The 

 only way of completely setting the question at rest, is to raise them from the eggs, and 

 this I have not been able to accomplish, but perhaps some other entomologist may suc- 

 ceed. — Henry Doubleday ; Epping, July 24, 1845. 



Capture of Fidonia ericetaria fyc. near Preston. J have received a letter from my 

 brother, William Hodgkinson, to-day, recording his captures on the 21st of July, near 

 Preston, and I think they are worth recording in the pages of ' The Zoologist.' He 

 took thirty specimens of Fidonia ericetaria, seven of fiarpalyce unangulata, twelve of 



