48 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Convolvulus Hawk-moths in Bute and Perthshire. 



The record of three specimens of Sphinx convolvuli during the last 

 week of August and first week of September of last year, from the 

 eastern side of Bute, may be of interest as a supplement to the list 

 published in the December Scottish Naturalist. Louis P. W. 

 Renouf, The Bute Laboratory and Museum, Rothesay. 



In August 191 7 a Convolvulus Hawk-moth {Sphinx convolvuli) 

 was got at Stronvar, Balquhidder, and sent to me. It was contend- 

 ing with a Swallow in the outer hall when caught. John Bf.rrv, 

 Tayfield, Newport. 



Phibalapteryx lapidata, Hb., and Tortrix forsterana, 

 Fb., in the Lothians. In view of its presence on the Lanark 

 moorlands, I have for some years past been on the outlook for 

 Phibalapteryx lapidata in the adjoining districts of the Lothians, 

 and on 10th September last succeeded in finding it at Blawhorn 

 Moor, in the west of Linlithgowshire. Seven specimens (four 

 males and three females) were captured, and other three seen. 

 The first observed was a female fluttering about a clump of rushes 

 early in the afternoon (1.30 p.m.). It was fully two hours before 

 the next, also a female, was detected. The third, a male, was taken 

 about four o'clock, and the fourth, a female, ten minutes later. 

 Between then and half-past five, when I had to leave the moor, the 

 rest made their appearance. Doubtless this moth flies most freely 

 towards sunset, which on the day in question was not till 7.44 

 (summer time). The Linlithgowshire habitat corresponds with that 

 in Lanarkshire described by Mr K. J. Morton (see Barrett's British 

 Lepidoptera), rushes in this case /uncus conglomeratus being a 

 conspicuous feature of the vegetation. Other moths present in 

 numbers on the same part of the moor were Tapinostola fulva 

 among the rushes, and Hydrcvcia nictitans on the flower-heads 

 of the devil's-bit scabious. With the exception of the old one 

 from near Loch Lubnaig mentioned in Buchanan White's 

 Lepidoptera of Perthshire (187 1), there is apparently no previous 

 record of P. lapidata for the Forth area. 



To Mr J. W. Bowhill I am indebted for a specimen of Tortrix 



forsterana, one of three he took in his garden at Morelands, Grange 



Loan, Edinburgh, on 23rd July 191 7. I have no note of any 



previous record of the occurrence of this moth in " Forth."' 



William Evans, Edinburgh. 



