HARDWICKKS SCIENCE-GOSSIF. 



lOI 



THE ENTOMOLOGY OF HIGHGATE, 

 MIDDLESEX. 



By William J. V. Vandenbergh, F.R.A.S., 

 F.M.S., &c. 



THERE is not, I think, another locality within 

 half-a-dozen miles of London where so many 

 species of our commoner insects may be obtained as 

 at Highgate. 



This neighbourhood is very well known to 

 collectors in the north of London, many of whom 

 make it their usual hunting-ground, and apparently 

 with the best results. 



I have myself taken many hundreds of specimens 

 here, chiefly Noctuse at sugar, and have been in the 

 habit of entomologising in this neighbourhood very 

 frequently, almost always obtaining specimens which 

 were wanted by me to fill up blanks in my collec- 

 tions. There are so many ways by which the 

 London entomologists may get to Highgate that I 

 cannot feel surprised that a large number of collectors 

 visit the neighbourhood in quest of specimens. 



It is very unusual to walk through the woods at 

 Highgate on a genial summer evening without 

 meeting some votary of the net and pin, but there is 

 ample space for all, and there need be no fear on the 

 part of a new-comer as to his finding plenty of 

 ground to work. 



Highgate has not yet entirely succumbed to the 

 trowel of the speculative builder, as have most of the 

 surrounding districts, but it would be too much to 

 expect that it will be as productive, entomologically, 

 in a few years as it is now. 



Many good species of Lepidoptera are often taken 

 in the neighbourhood, and I have no hesitation in 

 saying that it is by far the most productive locality in 

 the north of London. 



The list of butterflies to be taken here is not a very 

 long one, and they are all common species, viz., 

 Vanessa atalanta, V. Urticcc, V. lo, V. Cardui, 

 Satyms megcera, Gonepteryx Rhamni, and Antho- 

 charis Cardamines, &c. The common species of 

 " skippers " are also generally abundant. 



On the gas lamps at the sides of the Muswell Hill 

 Road, leading between the woods, may be found, at 

 the proper season of the year, an occasional speci- 

 men of Lithosia atircola ; and its near relative, L. 

 quadra, is reputed to have been taken in a like 

 position ; but I have not personally seen the latter 

 species taken in the neighbourhood, and consequently 

 cannot vouch for the correctness of the statement. 

 I have taken specimens of the large emerald 

 {Geometra papilionaria) off" these lamps, as also 

 specimens of Calligenia miniata and Metrocampa 

 margaretaria, the two latter species in considerable 

 numbers. Cossus ligniperda occurs in the willow- 

 trees in the neighbourhood, and used occasionally 



come to regale itself upon the "sugar" spread on 

 the palings or tree trunks for the allurement of the 

 Nocture. 



Nearly all the fields near the woods produce 

 Hepialus hccttis, H. hipulitms, and H. humuli ; and 

 H. sylvinus is reported to have been taken in the 

 lower wood near Highgate Station. 



The beautiful larvae of Odonestis potatoria may 

 often be seen in the spring feeding upon the long 

 grass at the sides of the roads, and the perfect insect 

 often startles the collector by flying madly at the 

 lamps, like Arctia Caja, at midsummer. Liparis 

 aurifiua, L. salicis, Hernitliea thymiaria, Acidalia 

 avcrsata, Aiiisopteiyx nscidaria, Eiipitliecia cen- 

 taureata, E. casiigaia, Ypsipetes ehitata, Cidaria 

 fiilvata, C. dotata, and all the English species of the 

 genus Hybernia are common at the gas lamps ; 

 whilst Arctia mendica, Orgyia pudibunda, Eurytncne 

 dolobraria, Pericallia syringaria, Odontopcra hidentata, 

 Crocallis elinguaria, Etinomos tiliaria, Himera 

 pennaria, Phorodcsma bajularia, Lomaspilis mar- 

 ginata, and Anticlca badiata, are occasional visitors. 



Selenia illunaria, S. hinaria, S. illustraria, 

 Acidalia imitaria, Corycia temeraia, and Melanippe 

 moiitanata, are also often taken at the lamps, but 

 more frequently by " dusking." 



Phigalia pilosaria occurs very commonly at the 

 lamps in the early spring, in fact I have never seen 

 so many taken in any other locality. "Dusking" 

 along the hedgerojvs also produces Boarmia repandata, 

 HcDiithea thymiaria, Melanippe mcmtafiata, Cidaria 

 fnlvata, and many other common geometers, in great 

 abundance. 



Amphydasis prodromaria, A. betularia, and 

 Dicranura vinula are occasionally taken by 

 searching the tree trunks at the proper seasons, the 

 latter species often coming to the lights. 



Cilix spinula, Ptilodontis palpina, and Notodonta 

 camelina are sparingly taken at the lamps, as are also 

 nearly all the common species of "pugs." 



Perhaps the most beautiful species of the Noctuidae 

 to be commonly taken at Highgate are the buff- 

 arches (Gonophora derasa) and the peach blossom 

 (T/iynti)'a batis) both of which come freely to " sugar " 

 in the months of June and July, the former species 

 commencing to make its appearance somewhat later 

 than T. batis. Both these species are very active on 

 the wing, and] it is as well to have the net always 

 ready at hand, in order to secure them should they 

 forsake the sugar and take to flight. 



The woods in the neighbourhood are private 

 property, and the owners, or their employes, appear 

 to be of opinion that large trees are natural provisions 

 for the proper exhibition of notice boards and bills 

 warning trespassers of the dire consequences that may 

 ensue on any attempt at a ramble without due 

 authority. They are, however, very good in this 

 respect, and a very slight deviation from the beaten 

 tracks is as a rule allowed by courtesy to respectable 



