110 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



::^OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



Occurrence of Hydrilla palustris in Cumberland. — There ap- 

 pears to be no doubt of the two Noctuids, kindly exhibited by Mr. 

 G. B. Routledge, on my behalf, at recent meetings of several of the 

 London entomological societies, being females of Hydrilla paJiistris. 

 In asking for particulars concerning their capture, Mr. Tutt writes, " I 

 have no hesitation in referring them to H. palustris." This obscure 

 little moth, in addition to being one of our rarest Noctuids, is very 

 local in its distribution. Wicken Fen has yielded the majority of 

 British specimens. Newman {Brit. Moths, p. 312) mentions a speci- 

 men being taken " at Compton's Wood, near York, flying over grass 

 in a damp place." Carlisle must now be added to the localities for this 

 species. Between Wicken Fen and Carlisle lies nearly two hundred 

 miles of country, and in an extensive range like this it is surprising 

 that more specimens have not been turned up in the intervening 

 country. It is a species, however, easily passed over. My first speci- 

 men was taken late in the afternoon of May 30th, 1896, flying low 

 down over the herbage in a marshy meadow, on the outskirts of a 

 wood near Carlisle. The sun was shining brightly at the time. It is 

 much worn, and the markings are hardly decipherable. The fore- 

 wings are greyish-brown, with indications of two transverse lines, one 

 near the base and the other almost parallel with the hind margin. 

 The space betAveen these lines is of a somewhat deeper shade than the 

 remainder of the fore-wings. A small, dark spot marks the reniform. 

 This specimen measures an inch across the wings. The second 

 specimen, taken on June 12th, 1897, is similar to the first, but is an 

 eighth of an inch less in expanse. Though in much better condition, 

 the markings are still very obscure. It was taken in the same locality 

 as the other, but on another side of the wood, and again the habitat 

 was a marshy meadow. I well remember the occasion. It was 

 about 7 o'clock in the evening of a scorching day, and though the 

 sun was setting, it was still warm work collecting. In the shadow 

 thrown by the wood, Hepialus fwctns was on the move, and an early 

 Geometrid moth or two reminded one of the coming dusk. Out in the 

 open, crowds of Cramhiis pratellns and C. hortiiellns Hitted, and from 

 among them I was engaged in netting Enpithecia plumbcolata and 

 K. ])ijt/)iiaeata, when a dark-hued insect, flying rapidly in a straight 

 line, like a Zipjaena, caught my eye. In a trice it was netted, and as 

 I transferred it to a pill-box, I saw that my unknown capture of 

 May 30th, 1896, had been duplicated.— F. H. Day, 6, Currock Ter- 

 race, Carlisle. March 8th, 1898. 



Note on Zyg^na lonicer^e. — I have only found Z. hnnccrac in one 

 small field, of about half an acre, in this district. It is, however, 

 very abundant in that restricted area, and the imagines may be seen 

 in dozens, booming about, or resting quietly on the flowers of the 

 upright purple thistle. It appears regularly from year to year 

 throughout July. — T. Greer, Tullylagan, co. Tyrone. 



How TO find Thecla pruni — The carpet- beater abroad. — I feel 

 constrained to add yet another growl to the columns of the Entomolo- 

 t/ist's Ilc'cord. I went, last season, to the happy hunting-ground of 

 Thecla pruni. On arrival I was filled with disgust and contempt. 

 Some one, who evidently is well "in the know "of at least one good 



