366 TRAKSACT NS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



be little doubt that the flowers of the Nettle, although they are 

 specially fitted for wind fertilisation, do attract insects of more 

 orders than one. I have found the flowers literally covered with 

 small Beetles, and in the evening have netted among Nettles — 

 Halia wavaria, Linn., Noctua iilecta^ Linn., Noctua xantlio- 

 yrapha, Fb., Agrotis exdamationis, Linn. ; etc. Mr. A. Adie 

 Dalglish informs me that Scopula hUealis, Haw., also visits 

 Nettle flowers. I have not mentioned such species as Plusia 

 chrysitisj Linn., and Hahrostola tripartita, Hufn., which feed on 

 Nettle in the larval state, and may simply visit the plant for ovi- 

 positing. 



Of the Sallow I need say little. Its attractiveness, and the 

 insects which frequent it, are already known to all entomologists. 

 The nectar, as I have already said, is intoxicating, and would 

 seem to impede rather than to help " the grand object which 

 these visits are destined to effect." 



All my experience of Moth-collecting leads me to the conclu- 

 sion that with these insects colour is a matter of little importance 

 as an attraction. Given nectar, be the flower with or without 

 smell, no matter how inconspicuous it may be, the Moths will find 

 their way to it ; and smell alone, as in the case of the Elder, may 

 bring them. But everything goes to prove that, in respect of attrac- 

 tiveness to Moths, white or conspicuous flowers are hindrances, 

 and not helps. 



Narrative of a Cruise in Loch Fyne, June, 1899. 

 By John Paterson and John Renwick. 



[Read 27th June, 1899.] 



BIRDS, ETC. — On the evening of 6th June this year a party 

 representing the Society, and consisting of Messrs. John Robertson, 

 John Fleming, Hugh Boyd Watt, and the writers, joined Mr. Bain 

 and Mr. John Downes in the former's yacht, the s.s. " Romany," 

 at Craigmore, the intention being to have a three days' cruise in 

 Loch Fyne, and to visit a number of islets in its waters. We 



