LEPIDOPTERA, ETC., AT SCOTTISH LIGHTHOUSES 133 



DiPTERV. 



Chironomiis viridis, Mcq. — North Unst : one {S), July 1914. 



Tipiila coiifi/sa, v. d. Wulp. — North Unst: one (?) at lantern, 

 27th August 1 9 14. 



T. riifina, Mg. — North Unst: two (?) at lantern, iSth and 

 27 th August 1 914. 



Catabomba selenitica, Mg. — North Unst : one (?) at lantern, 

 1 8th August 1 9 14. 



Syrphus /iiiiiger, Mg. — Auskerrv: one (?) at lantern, September 



1913- 



In December 191 1, I received from Mr James Mackenzie the 

 following Moths from Lismore Lighthouse, all recently taken at 

 the lantern : — Cerastis vaccitdi, L., one ( (^ ) ; Hybernia aurantiaria, 

 Esp., one ( (? ) ; Cheiviatobia bruinata, L., ninety-one ( cJ ). There 

 were also in the box the following flies: Borboriis equinus^ Fin. 

 (i ? ), and Fiicomyia ? (2 $ ). 



On his transfer in 19 14 from the Isle of May to Skerry vore light- 

 house, Mr R. Wilson sent me some moths which came into his 

 house at the shore station on Earraid, but from the distant lighthouse 

 itself none has so far been received. 



In the foregoing lists,'the records have in almost every case been 

 given in ample detail, so that there is very little to add to the 

 information already furnished. Perhaps I have erred in giving too 

 much detail, but at this stage of the inquiry it seemed advisable to 

 take that risk, as it is possible the data may prove useful in ways 

 which are not at present fully appreciated. The sex data, for 

 instance, may be of little value, but having been noted they are 

 published for what they may be worth — they are at least interesting 

 as simple facts, if nothing else. 



The following further particulars regarding the numerous speci- 

 mens of Xylophasia polyodon (Dark Arches), and one or two other 

 moths captured at the lanterns may here be mentioned. In the 

 case of X. polyodon, the sex was noted in 1 72 1 Isle of May specimens, 

 with the result that 1209 were found to be males, and 512 females. 

 The proportions varied of course on different nights, but with few 

 exceptions males predominated more or less, especially at the 

 beginning of the season. ^ Paired examples were on several occasions 



' Examples of the separate items of which the above total is made up are : 

 40 (J, 14 9 ; 148 cJ, 41 9 ; 120 cJ, 45 ? ; 51 <J, 14 9 (night of 13th July 191 I 

 43 <J, 42 9 (night of 28th July); 20 c5, 3 9 (second week of July 1912); 76 6, 

 25 ? ; 113 <^. 34 ? ; 105 <5, 53 9 ; 12 6, 15 9 (15th August 1913); 55 ^, 

 19 9 (July 1914) ; 20 <5, 27 9 (August). Most of the records occurred in July. 



