OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 190G. 203 



was secured by Dr. K. Jorden ou May 31st. This is not, 

 however, an additiou to the coimty list, as a specimen was 

 taken at Hitchin in 1884 by Mr. J. Hartley Durrant. As 

 already recorded in past years' reports by Mr. Arthur Cottam, 

 the small elephant hawk-moth, Chcerocampa porcellus, is to be 

 foimd in this neighbourhood, and Mr. Goodson informs me that 

 he has taken so many as twenty larvse in one night feeding ou 

 yellow galium. The large elephant hawk-moth, G. elpenor, was 

 not scarce last season at Wilston Eeservoir. The lobster-moth 

 (Staurojnis fagi), another interesting species, was taken by 

 Mr. W. H. Smith in the beech woods to the west of the town. 

 Lujjerina cespitis occui-red commonly on the downs at Aldbury, 

 together with Charxas graminis, the antler-moth, some very 

 finely -marked forms of the latter being obtained. Nerironia 

 poinilaris simply swarmed, as also did Zygai7ia filipendulx, which 

 was to be seen in thousands, but without any varieties worth 

 mentioning, though hundreds of specimens were examined. 

 Mr. Goodson remarks that he never met this moth in such 

 profusion anywhere, and with its shining cocoons it presented 

 a sight not to be forgotten. 



Mr. A. H. Foster writes from 13, Tilehouse Street, Hitchin : 

 " I found 1906 a good season on the whole, though I can mention 

 nothing new among my captures. Beating hedges on Pegsdon 

 Hills produced Eupithecia scabiosata in enormous numbers, 

 and again I was able to find Anticlea sinuata, as between 

 June 17th and July 4th I took ten specimens in this manner. 

 I found that a very prolific method of collecting on these hills 

 was to beat the hedges for about an hour and a half before 

 dusk, and then when the light failed to search the waste ground, 

 which was covered with campions and other flowers, by means 

 of an acetylene bicycle-lamp and a net. By this method I 

 secured the following, some of them in numbers : — Chcerocampa 

 porcellus, Neuria saporiaria (numerous), Hadena dentina, 

 Hecatera serena, Grammesia trilinea, Leucania comma, Apamea 

 gemina, Dianthecia nana,D. cucubali, D. carpopliaga, D. capsincola, 

 Xylophasia hepatica, Aplecta advena, Mamestra anceps, Hadena 

 genistse, Xylophasia sublustris, Habrostola triplasia, Plusia gamma, 

 P. chrysitis, JDipterygia pinastri, Chariclea umbra, Cucullia 

 umbratica, and Axylia putris. By beating the hedges and 

 dusking the following were taken : — Bapta taminata, B. temerata, 

 Melanippe rivata, Anticlea sinuata, A. rubidata, Lomaspilis 

 marginata, Oabera pusaria, C. exanthemata, Acidalia remutata, 

 A. candidata, Melanippe montanata, lodis lactearia, Geometra 

 vernaria, Hemithea strigata, Eupithecia castigata, E. scabiosata, 

 E. rectangulata, E. exiguata, E. Haworthiata, E. coronata, and 

 many others. 



" At light the following were taken : — Sphinxligustri, Smerinthus 

 ocellatus, S. tilix, Certira vinnla, Bryophila perla, Zeuzera sesculi, 

 Lasiocampa quercifolia, Odonestis potatoria, Arctia caja, and 

 others. I710 geryon occurred in its customary abundance all over 



