1868. 



129 



foro thoir usual time. Altogether, 1 think we may consider it a very good Kcason 

 if we take as a criterion the occurence of such rarities as A. Lathonia., P. Daplidice, 

 B. liyieata, D. Bairettii, &c., and the abundance of those generally scarce insects, 

 A. Iris, C. Hyale, &c. — indeed, this appears to have been a wonderful season for 

 butterflies. This district, however, is not rich in Diurni, and we have nothing to 

 boast of in that respect, but my friend Mr. Wm Lello had the good fortune to meet 

 with a fine specimen of C. Edusa, var. Helice, on the Sandhills at Wallasey on the 

 llth August; this specimen is smaller, and not as dark as those taken in the south. 

 It is very extraordinary that it should have occurred here, since the typical Edusa 

 is hardly ever met with in this locality, and has not been seen this year. 



On the same day I obtained, by " raking " a sand bank, a wonderful variety of 

 F. cardAd, a description of which 1 hope to give in the next number. 



In this district sugaring was not of much use during the summer months, on 

 account of the wind being generally unfavourable — indeed, we have not had a single 

 favourable evening since the end of August. The ragwort flowers, usually such a 

 fine bait, seemed to have lost their attractiveness, perhaps through the excessive 

 drought. 



I have taken several pretty good insects in this district this season, among 

 which I may mention E. unifasciata (1), E. dolohrmia (1), A. suhsericeata^ Ewp^ 

 suhfulvata, E. fasciaria, C. xerampelina (3), T. subtusay and I have supplied my 

 friends with our noted local insects, such as B. trifolii, M. alhicolon, L. litoralisy 

 A. corticea, E. Uchenea, &c. 



Of S. sacraria, which I had hoped to take this season, I did not see a single 

 specimen, but my friend, Mr. C. S. Gregson, took a fine one at Wallasey towards 

 the end of July. 



My best " take" this season has been a specimen of that great rarity Catocala 

 fraxini — unfortunately it is in a very dilapidated state. I took it at sugar in East- 

 hand Wood on the 12th inst., and so little did I expect such an insect on that 

 evening, that when I saw it at a distance I made sure it was a bat, as I had seen 

 several flying about at twilight, and I knew these little animals sometimes indulged 

 in the sweet intoxicant so attractive to their prey, the moth. 



The same evening Mr. Lello, who was with me, took a fine specimen of X gil- 

 vago, a species which has not hitherto been captured in this locality. I dare say 

 we should have been more successful had the wind not been N.E. — E. L. Eagonot, 

 130, Gonway Street, Bii-kenhead, September ISth. 



Note on the ovipositing of Pamphila Sylvanus. — As I was resting awhile on the 

 WaiTen, last July, with a perfect shower of butterflies round me, I had a good 

 opportunity of watching a $ P, Sylvanus deposit her eggs. She flew from one stem 

 of grass to another several times, as if she were rather particular in her selection, 

 and, having found a suitable one, she slid gently down it. The movement was so easily 

 yet so quickly done, that I could scarcely see whether it was performed by means of 

 the legs or the wings, but I rather think the former. When she was gone I opened 

 the sheath formed by the leaf round the stem, and found therein about thirty small 

 white eggs deposited in a line. — Henry Ulliett, Folkestone. 



Deilephila lineata at Newport, I. W. — On August llth I caught a specimen of 

 DeilepMla lineata, rather faded, hoveriug over a bed of geraniums in the twi- 



