1915.] REPORTS. 195 



Report of the Entomological Section, 1015. 



Though we had a fine summer and insects were abundant, 

 there was little in the way of discoveries to reward diligent 

 work. I have reason to fear, on the other hand, that the 

 number of our species has declined, that the enormous 

 extension of greenhouses and the destruction of trees to 

 accommodate them with sufficient sun, together with the 

 cutting up of many pastures for bulb growing, have consider- 

 ably reduced the number of butterflies and moths. 



In two important respects, it must be admitted, my 

 investigations were seriously handicapped. I could neither 

 "sugar" nor use the attraction of light. Owing to the war, 

 military authorities prescribed the use of lights under severe 

 limitations, which were especially stringent near the coast. 

 Thus a stay of five weeks at the Pleinmont Hotel — June 22, 

 end of July — was robbed of more than half of its entomolo- 

 logical possibilities. This was the more vexatious as it is the 

 first time for over 25 years that I have been in Guernsey 

 during those weeks, the most productive to the entomologist 

 of the whole season. I add little therefore to our local list 

 as the result of my enjoyable but often laborious days on the 

 cliffs. In a few instances, where only a single specimen of a 

 species had been previously recorded, and on what seemed 

 sometimes doubtful authority, I was able to give fresh 

 testimony to its occurrence. 



In the earlier days of summer I had an interesting 

 experience, when ornithology clashed with entomology. I 

 had aimed a careless stroke of the net, and had missed a 

 geometer, probably Xanfhorhoe fluctuata, it flew a couple of 

 yards and I made for it again, but before I could reach it a 

 swallow dived between us, and also missed, but doubled back 

 and caught it, all within two feet of my extended net. June 

 22 I took Artica villica, Nemoria viridata (4), Perizoma 

 flavofasciata (decolorata), fairly common, and Epinephele 

 jurtina abundant. I took many N. viridata later, seldom in 

 good order. 



June 22 Hipparchia semele, the " Grayling," began to 

 be common, also Zi/goena trofolii, both of which increased in 

 numbers to an enormous extent during the next ten days. 

 Adsita statices was also widely distributed and numerous, and 

 Melitcea cinxia became common. I got one nice banded male 

 aberration. But a surprising early emergence was that of 

 Epinephile titkonus on the 23rd, when the males appeared in 

 fair numbers. The females did not appear until the 29th. 

 This butterfly is generally regarded as a late July insect. 



