84 NOTES ON LEPIDOPTEUA. 



where it is taken in great profusion in the month of August^ near Brodick. 

 H. jE(jena is of rather local habits, preferring open woody places. 



The.cla ruhi is plentiful near Greenock, Arran, and other places in the 

 vicinity of the Frith of Clyde, also in Fifeshirej flying low and often settling 

 on -the flowers of Senecio vulgaris. 



Polyommatus alsus occurs in many parts of Ayr, Dumbarton, and Fife. 

 P. Artaxerxes is also abundant in several parts of Fifeshire. 



Thyniele alveolus and Tages seem to be generally distributed in heathy places. 



Of the Sphinges, by far the most abundant is Smerinthus popidi, occurring 

 very commonly in the larva state, wherever its appropriate food is found. 



AcJierontia atropos appears to be dispersed very generally over all this district j 

 scarcely a season passing in which we do not hear of its capture; it has 

 recently been taken at Greenock, and in the vicinity of Ayr, 



Sphinx liyustri: a single specimen of this insect was taken about five years 

 aco, near Glasgow, but was much spoiled in the capturing, before we had an 

 opportunity of seeing it. 



Sphinx convolvuli: this species has been taken in Renfrewshire; but not 

 common. 



DeilephUa porcellus occurs sparingly on the coast near Ayr; taken generally 

 in the caterpillar state feeding on the Galium verum. It is also found rather 

 plentifully in Fife. 



Deilephila lineata: a single specimen of this rare insect was taken within 

 a mile of Glasgow, four or five years ago. 



Zijgcoia Jlh'pcndulce is not uncommon near Ayr, and in the Isle of Cumbray, 

 Frith of Clyde. Z. loti is also found, but much more sparingly. 

 . Sesia apiformis occurs rarely near Glasgow, and, with Trochilium 

 tipuliforme, which is common enough in gardens, is the only species of 

 clear-wing that has come under our notice "in this district. 



All the native species of Hepialus are indigenous to the West of Scotland. 

 With the exception, perhaps, of the common H. humuli, they appear to be 

 all more or less local in their habits, occurring, as we have frequently observed, 

 in certain isolated spots in the greatest profusion, while • hardly a solitary 

 specimen could be seen for miles round. This characteristic feature of the 

 genus we have observed more obviously in the habits of H. sylvinus. In the 

 month of September, we have taken this species in a retired dell, a few miles 

 from I^anark, in extreme abundance; the males darting about with great 

 rapidity, and the females vibrating their wings, and crawling up the long stalks 

 of grass, or concealing themselves behind the leaves of low-growing plants; 

 while we have met with it nowhere else in this district. H. lupuUnus and 

 Rectus occur in various spots near Glasgow, and elsewhere; though they can hardly 

 be called common. H. velleda, in its distribution, partakes much of the same 

 local character, though its localities are so much more numerous, as to make 

 it, with hardly the exception of //. humuli, by far the most abundant species 

 of the genua in Lanarkshire. Some of the varieties of this insect are very 



