X. 
REPORT ON INSECTS OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE DURING 
THE YEAR 1883. 
By F. W. Silvesteb, F.E.Met. Soc. 
Head at Watford, 1 5th April, 1884. 
1st presenting a report on that branch of Natural History of 
which I have now the honour of being your recorder, I must claim 
indulgence for two reasons. Firstly, I have the disadvantage of 
succeeding in this office our skilled honorary member Miss E. A. 
Ormerod, Consulting Entomologist to the Boyal Agricultural 
Society, who, in addition to other valuable papers, gave us our 
first two reports on this subject; and secondly, I have but scanty 
materials available as the basis of this report. A very few 
members only have sent me notes of any sort, and the majority of 
these are the dates of first appearances of insects recommended for 
observation. 
For this latter information I am indebted to the following:— 
At Watford, Dr. Brett and Mr. John ITopkinson; at St. Albans, 
Mr. A. E. Gibbs; at Harpenden, Mr. J. Willis; at Hertford, 
Mr. B. T. Andrews; at Sawbridgeworth, Miss Simpson; at 
Hitchin, Mr. Hill, and other members of the Hitchin Natural 
History Society; at Boyston, Mr. A. Kingston. 
The observations are as follows :—■ 
Melolontha vulgaris (cock-chafer), seen at Hitchin, May 14th; 
at Harpenden, May 25th ; at Sawbridgeworth, June 3rd. 
Rhizotrogus solstitialis (fern-chafer, or July-chafer), at Hitchin, 
June 29th. 
Lampyris noctiluea (glow-worm), at Watford, June 17th; at 
Harpenden, June 20th. 
Apis mellifica (honey-bee), at St. Albans, January 1st ; at 
Harpenden and at Boyston, January 20th; at Watford, January 
22nd; at Hertford, February 5th. 
Vespa vulgaris (common wasp), at Hertford, April 2nd; at 
Watford, May 20th. 
Pieris Brassiece (large garden white or cabbage-butterfly), at 
Harpenden, March 5th; at Watford and Hertford, April 5th; 
at Watford, April 8th (four seen); at Boyston, April 26th; at 
Hitchin, May 6th. 
Pieris Rapes (small white cabbage-butterfly), at Hitchin, April 
1st; at Boyston, April 2nd ; at Harpenden, April 4th; at Hertford, 
April 5th ; at Watford, April 7th. 
Anthocharis cardamines (orange-tip butterfly), at Hitchin, 
May 5 th. 
Epeniphile janira (meadow-brown butterfly), at Hertford, May 
16th ; at Harpenden, May 22nd; at Hitchin, June 24th. 
Bibio Marci (St. Mark’s fly), at Hitchin, April 18th (few), ditto, 
30th (abundant); at Harpenden, July 1st. 
From the above notes it will be seen that at six of the seven 
