LOCHINVER AS A LOCALITY FOR LEPIDOPTERA 175 



such mountainous districts, being of gneiss, limestone, marble, 

 and basaltic rock. The vegetation is also of a like type. 

 The woods, generally extending along the banks of a loch 

 or situated upon a hillside, are composed chiefly of birch, 

 oak, hazel, and alder. Fir and larch are to be found in many 

 plantations. Heather, the cross-leaved heath, crow and blae- 

 berry, are to be found everywhere, and the royal fern flour- 

 ishes on the borders of the lochs, of which there are over two 

 hundred in the parish, and upon the numerous islets which 

 are dotted among their waters. Sugaring is with difficulty 

 carried on amongst the trees, partly from the closeness of 

 trees in the woods, and also from the smoothness of their 

 bark ; but if the solution be applied to the flowers of the 

 ragwort, which this season at any rate has bloomed in 

 vast profusion, much success may result. Among the Agrotis 

 group, which come plentifully to this flower, were observed 

 Agrotis tritici and Agrotis nigricans as being abundant. 

 Agrotis obelisca, a few specimens near the sea shore. Amongst 

 others visiting the ragwort we noticed Hydrcecia micacca, 

 Xylophasia monoglypJia, Xylophasia hepatica y Xylopliasia 

 litkoxylea, Leucania conigera, Polia c/ii, this last being also 

 very plentiful resting by day on the stone walls, the colouring 

 of which it so closely resembles. There appears to be great 

 diversity in the depth of colouring in this insect. Specimens 

 I have from farther south seem much lighter, and by com- 

 parison of a larger size. The Lochinver specimens are darker, 

 smaller, and the markings more pronounced. [Var. olivacea ? 

 (Eds.)] Aporophyla nigra is to be taken either at sugar or 

 resting upon the heather by day. Anchocelis pistacina was 

 of frequent occurrence. Among the butterflies were found 

 Argynnis Paphia before alluded to. Satyrus Seme/e, which 

 was generally to be found resting on the stony places on the 

 hillsides, Erebia slithiops, Ccenonympha Piwiphilus, Vanessa 

 urticu\ Pier is uapi, Pieris rapn~\ Pieris brassica, Lycana 

 Icarus, only need mentioning. Specimens of C. PanpJiiliis 

 were large, and as a rule of a dark" hue. 



Among the Geometrae, and this district would seem 

 especially rich in these, we may note the occurrence of 

 Oporabia dilutata } Larentia didytnata^ Larentia cwsiata, Thera 

 simnlata, Thera variata var. obefiscata, the larva of the latter 



