THE WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST. 
15 
being a regular Cumberland field, 
with a scanty bit of hedge here, 
and a lime-stone wall there, being 
the Very facsimile of a dozen other 
fields in the immediate neighbour- 
hood. E. blandiata, we know, has 
the reputation of being an exceed- 
ingly local insect, and one naturally 
expects to find its range limited. We 
have, however, observed a still greater 
degree of peculiarity, or fancifulness, 
or whatever it may be called, in the 
case of Argyresthia G cedar tella, which, 
if not every where abundant, is at 
least not generally esteemed a very 
local species. Yet wc know a hedge, 
from one end of which A. gccdartella 
may he beaten out in any quantities, 
but only for a couple of yards up the 
hedge, and this we have remarked, 
not once, but season after season. 
Gracilaria Syringella, Pterophorus 
fuscus, Pempelia fusca, and many other 
more or less common and widely dis- 
tributed species, we have observed 
occurring in the same uncertain man- 
ner, , and the experience of every 
Entomologist will bear witness that 
there is no insect so universally 
abundant but it will be observed in 
greater quantities in some places than 
in others, even where there is, ap- 
parently, nothing to explain the 
difference. When so many theories 
have been started to explain such 
phoenomcna, it can hardly be deemed 
presumptuous in any one to have one 
of his own. 
It seems most natural to us, to sup- 
pose that insects like human beings, 
are subject to social laws, which are 
not to be over-ruled in all cases by out- 
ward influences. It is not likely 
that insects, any more than men, 
would always remain evenly distrib- 
uted, even if they ever were so. 
Just as men build towns and 
live together, so do all animals 
form colonies and settlements, the 
choice of which, though often affected 
by the peculiar adaptation of certain 
places, is not entirely subject to it. 
But, as some men are of a nomad-like 
and restless disposition and often 
turn up in all sorts of places where 
one least expects or wishes to see 
them, so some insects are widely 
distributed, while others, like sober 
citizens, remain stationary from year 
to year. 
The Weekly Entomologist may be 
obtained of Mr. T. Blackburn, 
Bowdon, Cheshire, by post, price 
Three Shillings and Three Pence 
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licmittances should be sent in Post 
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Those who make any discovery, or 
capture of a rare species, or observa- 
tion of general interest, ai’e requested 
to communicate, at once, a notice of 
the same, to Mr. T. Blackburn, 
Bowdon, Cheshire. 
As the number of subscribers to 
the Entomologist is at present, not 
large, it is earnestly requested that 
those who kindly give their support 
will endeavour to increase its circula- 
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