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then presents itself to us : Is there a gradual and imperceptible 
alteration in our climate, which our sensitive lepidoptera are the first 
to discern, and are adapting themselves in a manner best suited to 
their comfort ? 
As our Society is almost exclusively a lepidopterist’s society, 
perhaps I may be permitted to make a few remarks on the apparent 
decrease and increase of certain species, and also on the difficulty of 
obtaining others, which, although not necessarily scarce, are usually 
found among our desiderata. The first species that presents itself to 
my mind is Pharetra auricorna. I believe the last generation of 
lepidopterists had no great difficulty in getting them, but I may safely 
say that personally I have never known anyone to take it, and I have 
certainly never had that pleasure myself. I believe Abbotts Wood is 
the recorded habitat, but whether it has disappeared, or is not worked 
for, I cannot say. I am afraid it may be the former case, for I cannot 
imagine, with so many active collectors that we possess, that an insect 
so much in request should be only waiting to be caught. Then we 
have Trigonophora empyrea, which was formerly taken freely somewhere 
in the Brighton or Lewes district, which, to all appearance, has gone. 
I was never acquainted with the exact locality, but as Brighton has 
grown so immensely within recent years, it may be that now houses 
stand where once T. empyrea flourished, but most probably it is a 
natural disappearance. Another species that might be mentioned is 
Fidonia conspicuata, which apparently is becoming much more scarce. 
In 1884 I took it freely in one of its Suffolk localities, and in 1898 I 
visited the spot again, with the result of one specimen for a hard day’s 
work. Since then I have visited one of its old Essex localities, with 
our friend the Bev. C. R. N. Burrows, but with no success. In 
looking over a somewhat old text-book by H. Noel Humphreys, F. 
conspicuata is described as “ a common species often found,” which 
certainly does not hold good at the present day. With the march of 
brick and mortar, it is not surprising that many of our insects disappear, 
but in the case of F. conspicuata, its old haunts have been untouched 
by the builder, and it is difficult to account for its partial disappearance. 
Another insect which I see continually in the desiderata list is Bombycia 
fluctuosa. This species, I believe, is always with us, and only wants 
working for. Only a few years ago it was taken freely by my friend 
Mr. J. A. Hodges in Wyre Forest, and it is also said to be common at 
Keswick, and fairly common in Gloucestershire. Considering the 
number of collectors that would be glad of specimens for their cabinets, 
it is almost surprising that some of our more active members have not 
made special efforts to obtain it. 
Xylina semibrunnea also appears to be more scarce than in former 
years. Some of our Cambridgeshire friends still take it pretty regularly, 
but I have only once taken it myself, and that was about 30 years ago, 
in the neighbourhood of Wimbledon. 
Although Lyyris (?) prunata is said to be a common insect, it is 
surprising how seldom it comes into the hands of a London 
entomologist. Doubtless, to a large extent, that is due to it being a 
garden insect, and possibly it may thrive in gardens quite close to us, 
without being seen. I have had this fact pointed out to me by a 
brother entomologist, and it certainly agrees with my experience, as I 
have never once seen the insect in a wild state. 
