166 
A. E. GIBBS-LEPIDOPTERA 
is apparently establishing itself in new localities, and I am glad 
to bear that it bas now reached Hertfordshire. I took it last 
summer at Felixstowe on the Suffolk coast, but tbat is, I believe, 
one of its old localities. The larvae feed on the wild carrot and 
other umbelliferous plants. 
5. Orobena extimalis. — Mr. A. T. Goodson, of Tring, took a 
specimen of this species amongst other moths at dusk on June 28th 
in a field of vetches, etc., of rank growth. In an adjoining field 
Mr. Goodson was, last year, fortunate enough to take Spilodes 
sticticalis. The capture of 0. extimalis is, I think, the most 
interesting record of the year, for, unlike most of our other new 
records, which are of species increasing in the area of their 
occurrence, extimalis is apparently one of our dving-out species. 
I reported the capture to Mr. Charles E. Barrett, E.E.S., one of 
our veteran entomologists, and the author of a very valuable and 
splendidly illustrated work on British Lepidoptera, which will 
doubtless be the standard authority on the subject for a long time 
to come, and he informs me that Cambridgeshire has been the 
home of 0 . extimalis , but that it has been very scarce for years 
there and elsewhere. It is hard to say why it is disappearing, for 
an insect whose larvae feed on that very abundant cornfield plant 
the charlock ought to experience no difficulty in continuing its 
existence. 
6. Schoenobius mucronellus. —A female of this species, whose larvae 
feed in the stems of reeds, was taken at "Watford by Mr. Yernon P. 
Kitchin, of The Priory, Langley Boad. 
7. Homceosoma sinuella. —A specimen of this species was captured 
in the goods-yard at Theobald’s Grove Station, near Waltham Cross, 
by Mr. W. C. Boyd. I believe this is a species which has lately 
shown a decided inclination to spread inland. 
8. Homceosoma nebulella. —This species has occurred both at 
St. Albans and Watford. On July 6th Mr. Arthur Cottam took 
a series amongst ragwort at Whippendell, and I also took it at 
light at my study window. The specimens were submitted to 
Mr. Barrett, who expressed surprise at its being taken in Herts. 
Mr. Cottam remarks that it is a difficult insect to get in good 
condition, as, though easily caught, it is so wild in the net that 
it soon ruins itself. 
Having mentioned the species which we are able to add to our 
insect fauna, I now turn to the work done by the various observers 
in their particular districts. Erom most quarters I have received 
reports of a good season having been experienced, though Mr. Boyd 
hardly speaks so favourably of 1901 Horn the point of view of 
a working entomologist. At St. Albans I captured a number 
of species new to the district, most of my work having been done 
in the grounds of my new residence, where the vicinity of the river 
Yer, and the old monks’ fish-pond in the neighbouring grounds of 
the Manor House, doubtless account for the capture of several 
insects which love the water or whose larvae feed on aquatic plants. 
