LKPIDOPTERA OF MIDLOTHIAN. 121 



hundreds over it uttering loud cries to ascertain the cause; but as soon as they 

 find it is hopeless, they leave it to be bleached by the dews and rains of 

 heaven. Here, 



. "We can trace, 



Examples worthj' of the human race." 



Merriott, near Ilminster, January \2th., 1852, 



THE LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS OF MIDLOTHIAN. 



BY DK. W. H. LOWE, F. R. S., ED., ETC., 

 AND R. F. LOGAN, ESQ., M. U. P. S., ED. 



That some account of this branch of Natural History is at present 

 demanded, seems to me sufficientl}"^ attested by the fact that the only descrip- 

 tion of the Lepidoptcrous insects of Edinburgh at present existing, is that 

 published by Mr. Stuart, in the ^^Wernerian Transactions," for 1808, being 

 a mere list of insects found, and containing only one hundred and eleven 

 species. When we take into consideration the increased attention which has 

 been given to all branches of Entomology since the early period I have named, 

 and the increased success in capturing insects, which has resulted from a 

 more intimate knowledge of their habits, to say nothing of the various agents 

 now employed to allure them, as the use of light, and especially the smearing 

 of saccharine mixtures upon the rocks and trees, it will not surprise any one 

 that the list we now present contains not merely double the number of those 

 in Mr. Stuart's, but no less than five hundred and eighty-two well-authenticated 

 species. 



For the accuracy of any insect inserted in our catalogue, Mr. Logan and 

 I conjointly pledge ourselves, having rigidly refused every insect of doubtful 

 origin; and in the few instances in which the species have not been observed 

 by ourselves, we have attached the name of the entomologist who has captured 

 them, and this not until we had personally communicated with him respecting 

 them, and obtained his sanction for so doing. * 



A few insects still remain in the list of Mr. Stuart, unsupported by subse- 

 quent observation. They are Poli/ommatus (Egon, P. agestis, Argynnis Eiipliro- 

 s^i/ne, Vaneasa C-album, Satyrus Megoera, Splihix Ligustri, Smerinthus Tiliw,, 

 Hpilosoma Luhridpeda, Notodonta Gamelina, Pygcera Bucephala, Xaivthia citrago, 

 Hadena Chenopodii, Plusia hractea, Biston Betularia. ,With regard to some 

 of these, as S. Liguntri, V. C- album, N. Camelina, etc., it may be doubted 

 whether they have not been erroneously inserted by Mr. Stuart; while others, 

 as Pygcera Bucephala, Plusia bractea, Biston Betularia, etc., having been taken 

 in some instances abundantly, in the neighbouring counties, or at least in 

 Scotland, may be expected again to occur in this district. The length of 

 time, often a great number of years, which has frequently been observed to 

 occur between the abundant appearance of a particular species, and the com- 

 parative rarity of its presence or entire disappearance, is a curious subject to 

 VOL. n. R 



