50 Field Note, 



How valuable were the results attending Mr. Dobree's keen 

 study of the European Noctuae is well shown in the following 

 extracts from Mr. J. W. Tutt's 'Melanism and Melanochroism 

 in British Lepidoptera,' written in 1891 : — 



' In these discussions Ton the origin and distribution of 

 melanism], the subject was generally treated from an insular 

 point of view, until Mr. Dobree (' Entomologist,' xx. pp. 25-28) 

 endeavoured, by comparing our melanic forms with the forms 

 of the same species obtained on the Continent, to correlate the 

 facts obtained, and to shew the real relation that not only our 

 melanic, but also our ordinary forms, bore to the Palaearctic 

 lepidopterous fauna, and to deduce reasons for the melanism 

 so prevalent in our British forms.' . . . 



' Our greatest authority on Continental Noctuae, Mr. N. F. 

 Dobree, wrote an article (' Entomologist,' xx, pp. 25-28), pre- 

 viously referred to, disproving the general notion that melanism 

 was characteristic of high latitudes, and pointing out the follow- 

 ing facts : — 



(1) That melanism scarcely ever occurred in such latitudes ; 



(2) That at any latitude, dry open areas produced more 

 brightly and clearly marked forms of ledidoptera ; and 



(3) That the North of Europe produced, practically, no 

 melanic forms, neither did the South, but the melanism of the 

 Continent was confined almost entirely to certain Alpine 

 districts. 







BNTOMOLOGV. 



Mablethorpe Insects. — In August last Mr. F. Rhodes 

 collected a number of insects at Mablethorpe, Lines. These he 

 sent on to me, and amongst them are :- — 



CoLEOPTERA. — Ilyhius obscurus Marsh., Philhydrus testaceus 



F. , Laccohius alutaceus Thoms., Oxytelus inustis Grav., Athous 

 longicollis 01., Donacia sericea L., Lagria hirta L., Nacerdes 

 melanura L., Philopedon geminatus ¥., Barynotus elevatus Marsh, 



Neuroptera. — Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Ischmira elegans, 

 Agrion pulchellum. 



Hemiptera. — Hydrometra stagnorum. 



The full list has been sent on to the Secretar}' of the 

 Lincolnshire Naturahsts' Union. Messrs. W. Holland and 



G. T. Porritt have kindly assisted me with the identification 

 of some of the species. — J. W. Carter, Bradford. 



Naturalist, 



