The Scottish Naturalist. 109 



A. porphyrea. — Locally common. It is partial to the blos- 

 soms of heather and woodsage, and also comes to sugar. 



A. lucernea. — Rare. Have taken it on heather blossom. 



Triphcena orbona. — Common. Varies considerably in the 

 colour of the fore-wings. I have one specimen as red as 

 interjccta. T. siibsequa has been reported from Moncreiffe 

 Hill, but I have never seen a specimen. Some specimens of 

 orbona have a dark brown blotch on the costa at the com- 

 mencement of the subterminal line, which I think has caused 

 the mistake. 



Noctua glareosa. — This insect was common in 1870 at sugar 

 and on phlox blossom in my garden, since which it has trans- 

 ferred its attention to ragwort and sugar at a much higher level, 

 indeed nearly to the summit. Probably, owing to the absence 

 of wild flowers, it had come down in search of food, as I have 

 seen few or none in my garden since. It is plentiful where it 

 occurs. Comes to light. 



K. depuncta. — Not uncommon, but rather local. To be 

 taken most seasons at ragwort, and occasionally at sugar. 



N. plecta. — Abundant where it occurs. At an elevation of 

 100 to 150 feet, and extending over about a linear half-mile of 

 ground, I have seen them absolutely swarming at dusk in the 

 opens when the wild hyacinth, ground ivy, &c., are in blossom. 

 Comes also to sugar occasionally. Sometimes, when it has 

 been getting too dark to net them, I have lighted up, but have 

 never been able to see one after the lantern was lighted. 

 Whether they drop to the ground or go up into the trees I 

 have never discovered. I have also taken this species at 

 rhododendron blossom, not in the heart of the truss, like 

 agrotis, but in the flower, like a bee. 



N. ditrapeziiun. — Common and pretty generally distributed. 

 Particularly partial to ragwort blossom. Varies slightly in size 

 and in bloom, but is otherwise very constant in markings, 

 &c. Its numbers do not seem to depend upon altitude, as it 

 is to be found wherever the ragw^ort blossoms most freely. 

 I have taken it also on the flowers of the woodsage (Teiurium 

 scorodonia), and occasionally at sugar, and at light in my 

 study. 



N. trianguhun. — Not common. Comes to sugar and light 

 A larva of this moth, which I had in my cage, burrowed into a 

 log of rotten wood to undergo its transformations. 



N. rhomboidea. — Not so common ; but we take it every 



