president’s address. 
247 
iu small numbers, but is becoming decidedly scarcer.* From 
one of the females takon in 1873 I obtained a few eggs, which 
Mr. Barrett turned out at Ranworth ; the curious result is chronicled 
in our ‘Transactions,’ vol. iii. , page 30, showing that as late as 
1878 it still survived. Unfortunately, I never again succeeded in 
getting eggs, my captures being nearly all males. I fear I shall 
never again see the insect alive, as it is now impossible for me to 
get away during June and -Inly; but I should esteem it a very 
great favour if any ono could procure ova for the purpose of again 
attempting to plant a colony in Norfolk. The number of eggs 
available at first was scarcely more than a dozen, and it is a most 
remarkable thing that out of so small a number any descendants 
should have survived. + 
Nanria dlialis may be taken as another and somewhat different 
type of this group, being not so much a remnant of a once abundant 
insect, but a species always moro or less rare. It was discovered 
at Yaxley a few years only before the. draining of the mere, but 
was esteemed such a prize, that Mr. Brown told me the fen-men 
asked as much as ten shillings for it at first, though this high price 
was somewhat lowered during the last year or two. At Wicken 
# Within the hist few years, however, it has been found in some numbers 
in a small tract of feu-laud at Chippenham. This fen, though as yet 
very little worked, owing to the objections of the owner, has produced a 
marvellous number of rarities, and its discovery by Messrs. Raynor and 
Warren forms an era in entomology. 
f I find iu my Journal the following note on this insect: — “ Wicken Fen, 
July 15th, 187-4— Caught a <? arundinxs on the wing away from the 
attracting lamp. I was dimly conscious of something dashing across my 
path, and struck at it. On examining my capture I was surprised to find so 
large an insect as a <J arundinxs — the only one I have thus caught. 
Generally you are made aware of the presence of arutidinis by a violent 
bang on the lamp, followed by a rustling iu the herbage below, and on 
looking down, see the moth boring in the grass, &c., as I have seen a Lackey 
Moth do under similar circumstances. The ? is not so swift, and on the 
very few occasions when I have taken it, it was clearly visible on the wing.” 
N.B. — The only time I have thus taken the <J. I once found a ? at rest. 
All my other captures by means of lamp. But for this means, or by searching 
for the larva, it would escape notice. In twenty years I do not believe that 
twelve specimens have been taken in any other way. 
VOL. v. 
s 
