LEPIDOPTERA, ETC., AT SCOTTISH LIGHTHOUSES 131 



only an increase in the number of specimens, but also in the 

 number of contributing stations. 



The lists of species received from the seven above- 

 mentioned lighthouses during 191 5 are given below. An 

 examination of the specimens of Plusia gamma brings out 

 the fact that the paler, more silvery ones are all males. 

 In Barrett's Lepidoptera of the British Isles, the species is 

 described as " variable ... in the ground colour and general 

 tone of colour of the fore wings, from silvery whitish-grey to 

 deep slate-grey, brown-grey, and purple-grey " ; but there is 

 no suggestion that the question of sex has anything to do 

 with this. , 



Isle of May Lighthouse. 



Captured prior to i ith August. 



One butterfly, Vanessa urtiav, ? : and the following moths : — 



Xylophasia polyodon, 12 ^ and 9 ? ; Agrotis lucernea, 2 $ and i ? ; 



Triphcena pronuba, 1 ? . Also a Caddis-fly, Stenophylax pertnistus, 



$ : and a beetle, Serica brunnea, ? . All are already on the list 



of species obtained at this lighthouse. 



Bell Rock Lighthouse. 



Xylophasia polyodon, ^ , taken 12th July, wind N.E. 

 Caradrina quadripunctata, $, loth July, wind E. 

 Vespa twrvegica, ? (queen wasp), i6th June, wind S.E. All 

 were at the lantern. 



Little Ross Lighthouse. 



Taken during the summer, prior to 15th September: — Leucania 

 pallens, i c^ and i ? ; Xylophasia polyodon, 4 $ and 9 $ ; Charccas 

 gramiiits, 2 ^ ; Agrotis strigula, i S ; Nodua xanthographa, i $ ; 

 Triptimia protiuba, 7 ; Amphipyra tragopogojiis, i S ', Xatithia 

 flavago {silago), i $ ; Cirrhcedia xerampelina, i ? ; Calymnia 

 trapezina, i S ] Plusia gamma, 9. Along with these moths there 

 was a specimen of one of the Dung-beetles, Aphodius rufipes. 



KiLLANTRINGAN LIGHTHOUSE. 



From this station six parcels were received. 



I. Contained the following moths (nine species), a beetle, and 

 an earwig, taken at the lantern, between May and July -.—Spilosofna 



