The summer of 1899 was a remarkable one at Rye in the abundance of Hydrœcia larvæ, as four species, never before noted in their larval state, and which do not seem to have their early histories described, were observed. Old acquaintances were to be found on every side, and some hitherto very uncommon ones were so abundant that a word in the matter of cause and effect may not be amiss. The seasonal conditions are, of course, contributive to such good results; still, the numbers in evidence every year suggest our looking a little further. Briefly, the environments are most propitious for the development of these borers, as that most important question, food supply, can be relied upon being adequate to all demands. The proximity to salt water insures a copious dew-fall, so that vegetation in the months of July and August does not suffer from the usual drought of this season in any such manner as it does farther inland. Here in late midsummer the larger Compositæ and other thick-stemmed plants are in full splendour, while fifty miles back from the coast all may be parched and leafless.