president’s address. 
243 
localities among Fens and to be passing away in some of these. 
Though best known from English specimens, it was recorded as 
occurring long after the draining of Whittlesea Mere, in Silesia 
and near Berlin, as well as from Hungary and near Vienna; but 
Staudinger in 1871 already affixes “olim” to his German localities, 
and I imagine it to be generally scarce. I have not seen a 
continental specimen. In England it was first discovered at 
Yaxley in 1844, but in 1848 and 1849 it was taken in some 
numbers, its habits being better understood. Mr. Brown informed 
mo that the local collectors took it at the end of June, flying 
in the early daylight about 3 or 4 a.m. over ground from 
which the reeds had been cut. Mr. Bond also took a few 
specimens at sugar about the samo date. It continued to be 
taken until the draining of the Mere in 1851. This, as recorded 
by Skertchley, was speedily accomplished, ami before the end of 
1852 much of the land was brought under cultivation in some 
way. During the short interval, the draining oh the water gave 
access to parts of the Fen which had previously been unapproach- 
able, and many of the insects were taken in greater numbers than 
before. The burning of the surface plants, however, and the 
ploughing up of the soil doubtless destroyed nearly all the insects 
inhabiting tho Fen itself, and it is doubtful whether any lingering 
remnant still inhabit nooks and corners of the old locality. 
Within the last three or four years, however, extrema has been 
rediscovered. No record seems to have been made of the event, 
which, in fact, appears to have been kept as private as possible; 
but I am informed that two or three specimens were taken at 
Wicken by the Rev. G. H. Raynor, and that it has also been 
taken by Captain Yipon on his own estate on the borders of 
Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. The latter capture admits 
of no doubt, as Mr. Barrett tells me that he has seen some of the 
moths. With regard to the former, in the absence of any record 
of the capture by Mr. Raynor himself I venture to think that 
there is some mistake in the locality, as the Wicken fen-men are 
quite unaware of any such capture, or of any recent visit of 
Mr. Raynor’s to the Fen. 
