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XXIII. 
NOTES ON LEPIDOPTERA OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE 
IN THE YEAR 1904. 
By A. E. Gibbs, F.L.S., F.B.H.S. 
Read at Watford, 29th March , 1905. 
The year 1904 must, I fear, be regarded by the working ento¬ 
mologist with a certain amount of disappointment. Notwithstanding 
the apparently favourable weather, insects were not plentiful. 
Sallows came into bloom rather late and proved fairly remunerative, 
but “ sugar ” throughout the year was a failure. I have only seven 
species to add to the county list, as against nine for the previous 
year, bringing the number of butterflies and moths on our record 
up to 1165. I cannot announce the presence in our midst of any 
very surprising visitor, though one or two of the newly-recorded 
species are far from common. Of the seven additions one species 
was observed both by Miss Alice Dickinson, near St. Albans, and by 
Mr. A. H. Foster, in North Herts. Two others are to be credited 
to Miss Dickinson, and one other to Mr. Foster. The remaining 
three records are by Mr. Y. P. Kitchin, Mr. A. T. Goodson, and 
myself. 
The species new to our list are : — 
1. Xylina semibrunnea, Haw. Baldock : A. H. Foster. 
Four specimens were taken at sugar, near Baldock, in August 
and September, by Mr. A. H. Foster, of The Grange. This is 
a local species and usually scarce, but though not previously 
recorded in Hertfordshire it has been taken in the adjoining- 
counties of Cambridge, Middlesex, and Essex. Mr. Foster was 
fortunate in securing so many specimens of an insect which is 
usually looked upon as a rarity. 
2. Melanippe galiata , Hb. St. Albans : Miss Alice Dickinson. 
This geometer was taken by Miss Dickinson near Sparrowswick 
Wood at dusk. It is a species more particularly attached to 
the coast, but is found inland not uncommonly upon Cretaceous 
formations. It is recorded for Middlesex. 
3. Anticlea cucullata , Hufn. ( sinuata , Hb.). St. Albans : Miss 
Alice Dickinson. Hexton: A. H. Foster. 
Two observers report the capture of this species. Miss Dickinson 
caught a specimen in the garden at New Farm, St. Albans, and 
Mr. Foster beat five specimens out of a hedge on the chalk hills 
near Hexton during three visits in July. This is another chalk- 
loving species, and appears in the Middlesex and Essex lists. 
4. Cidaria siterata, Hufn. ( psitticata , Schifl.). Tring: A. T. 
Goodson. 
Bred by Mr. Goodson from a larva taken at Tring. It is a pretty 
autumnal geometer now recorded for the first time for our county, 
though Mr. Barrett in ‘ British Lepidoptera ’ says that it occurs in 
Cambs, Beds, and Essex. It is often abundant in its favourite 
