i8 93 .] THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 127 



Post Card Notes. The Early Season. — I have received a 

 large number of communications on this subject, all arriving at the 

 conclusion, that Lepidoptera generally are appearing from three weeks 

 to a month before their usual time. There is so much repetition of 

 species in them, that I have made a selection of two or three from 

 distant localities. I have, however, no report from any Coleopterist, 

 or collector of any other order. It would be interesting to record if 

 other orders are similarly affected by the fine weather. We might 

 naturally presume they are, but it would be well to know, as it is often 

 the unexpected that happens. — Ed. B.N. 



The Early Season in Aberdeenshire. — Things are not so plenti- 

 ful here in the early months as in more Southern localities, but up to 

 the present time I have seen or taken multistrigaria, suffwnata, and v. 

 piceata, badiata, derivatci, gothica and v. gothicina, vubricosa, stabilis, 

 instabilis, lobtdata, lunaria, ilhinovia, miata, psitticata, fevrugata, bidentata, 

 cratezgata, carpmi, menyanthidis, atomana, piniaria and many pugs and 

 micros. — A. D. Connon, Pitcaple. 



The Early Season in Durham. — The earlier part of the season 

 was spoiled here by a long continuance of cold east winds. Sallows 

 opened very irregularly, some being quite over in March, while others 

 were flowering in May. I visited them several times in the early part 

 of April, but absolutely without success. The very cold wind ap- 

 parently preventing the Taeniocamps visiting the flowers. Campion 

 was well out in sheltered places in the middle of May, quite a fortnight 

 early. I have taken at it, and in the woods, over 20 species for whose 

 appearance I have no previous record earlier than June. The best of 

 these at Campion being : May 19th, Dianthescia capsincola, cucubali, 

 carpophaga, H. a dust a ; 22nd, H. dentina, thallasina ; 24th, N. clymi, and 

 on 20th May, P. carbonaviella, of which I have no previous record 

 before July. In Hezleden Dene, 12th May, T. crepuscularia (only once 

 before taken in May) C. silaceaka, Tortrix ministrana, and a week later 

 C. corylata, one of which is a beautiful form, the darkest I have met 

 with, E. affinitata, A. candidata, and many other common things equally 

 early. It is to be observed that this part of the country is always ver}' 

 late, and there is seldom much to get before June. — John E. Robson, 

 Hartlepool. 



The Early Season, Dorset. — What an early season. Oaks and 

 other trees are in full leaf. Marsh Valerian, Hawthorn, and other 

 flowers out. Oriental plane coming out — in 1879 it did not come out 

 till August. Insects equally early. March 27th, P. raped in fair numbers, 

 April 4, Eubolia Uneolcita; 6, A. ccirdamines ; 21, A. euphrosyne, S. alveolus, 

 E. mdiguta, Eupcecillia maculana ; 22, E. edusa, both sexes, P. teams, 

 agestis, C. pJdasas, T. tages, S. megcera, S. pampkilus, H. brunnichiana, Bibio 



