LEPIDOPTERA IN RELATION TO FLOWERS. 365 



expeditions, I have repeatedly observed Ajmmea oculea, Linn., 

 lying on the flowers in a helpless state of intoxication. 



Among plants which are very attractive to Nocture the most 

 noteworthy are the Ivy, Sallow, Field Thistle, and Ragwort. 

 Moths which have been sucking the juices of an}'' of these flowers 

 for any length of time are unable to fly, and simply tumble over 

 when touched. It is probable that more species of insects have 

 been recorded as occurring at the Ragwort (Senecio Jacohcea, Linn.), 

 than at any other plant in the British Flora, and I will only 

 mention a few of the species I have observed myself — Agrotis 

 vestigialis, Hufn. ; A. tritici, Linn. ; A. segetum, Schiff. ; Miana 

 bicoloria, Vill. ; M. fasciuncula, Haw, ; M. literosa, Haw. ; 

 Hydrcecia micacea, Esp. ; //. nictitans, Bork. ; Charceas graminis, 

 Linn. ; Caradrina quadripunctata, Fb. ; and Triphaina fimbria^ 

 Linn. On the other hand, the more showy Senecio aquaticus, 

 Huds., does not seem to attract Moths at all. 



It is possible that a plant of Ragwort or Field Thistle may 

 occasionally receive the pollen of another indi\adual, but from the 

 habits of the insects frequenting these plants it is almost certain 

 that pollination is effected mostly between the separate florets of 

 the flower-head. Neither Bee nor Moth will leave the heads of 

 either plant till every floret has been probed, and it usually 

 happens, especially with the Moths, that the visitor is unable to 

 proceed further. 



Cnicus arvensis, Hoffm., is much more popular by day than by 

 night, and it is much sought after by such species as Celcena 

 Uaicorthii, Curt., Miana fasciuncula, Haw,, Hydrcecia nictitans, 

 Linn., and Charceas graminis, Linn, I have likewise taken 

 Cidaria ^;?/?'a^ia^a, Bork., on thistle-heads, but the Geometer 

 carries his wdne better and keeps his head. Scabiosa succisa, 

 Linn., and Centaurea nigra, Linn., are well looked after hj Plusia 

 gamma, Linn., and the heads of the Centaurea are often quite 

 covered by one of the Pyralides [Scopula lutealis, Haw,), some- 

 times accompanied by a nearly-allied species, Pionea forficalis, 

 Linn. Thymus Serpyllum, Fr., is productive of Nocture after 

 dark. I have obtained in this way Axylia j^ufris, Linn., and 

 Miana literosa, Haw. 



In placing the Nettle in the list of flow^ers attractive to Moths, 

 I have marked it with a point of interrogation. But there can 



