A FEW DAYS AMONGST THE LEPIDOPTERA OF CAITHNESS. 223 



strange that I have never before taken this very common species in 

 Chiswick, A specimen of Xepticula centifoliella was bred from rose, 

 July 8th. This species is now more common than N. annmaldla. 

 During this month Gelechia rhomhoidella appeared, but more sparingly 

 than usual. It is very easy to pass over this species as it creeps into 

 the crevices of the bark of apples. I have frequently found it by seeing 

 the tip of one wing only, all the rest of the insect being hidden from 

 view. On August 1st I took a cocoon of Ornix betidae off birch, and 

 one of Xepticula vimincticola from a narrow-leaved willow, this cocoon 

 was spun up on the very tip of the leaf. Both insects emerged the 

 next morning ! It was also pleasing to breed Lithocolletis ^pinicnlella 

 from Chiswick, as I had not before taken it on the Middlesex side of 

 the river. (See Ent. Record, vol. xxi., p. 86.) 



In Richmond and the surrounding parishes the following species 

 occurred : Lithocollctis stettinensia off alders, and the little green larvje 

 of Ci'destis farinatella in the needles of Scotch pine on May 23rd. 

 On June 3rd Coleophora albicosta was common on furze, but slightly 

 worn, and the larvse of Deprchsaria coatosa fell from the same plant. 

 On one of the few oak palings still existing, Prays cwrtueUus and its 

 var. ritstica was common and in good condition, June 14th, and one 

 Elachista albifrontella was taken among grass. A fortnight later 

 E. triatoiiiea occurred. One Tinea corticella was taken, July 15th, off 

 an oak-trunk. On August 31st I found several cases of a Coleoplmra, 

 very like the cases of C. paripennella, attached to the underside of the 

 leaves of Potentilla torinentilla. I fancy there can be little doubt that 

 they will prove to be cases of C\ potentillae if they are successfully 

 reared. Off the above-mentioned palings one Stenolechia gniiDicUa 

 was taken. On September Gth I went to Ealing to get some cases of 

 Coleophora paripennella to compare with the above-mentioned cases, 

 and found also C. siccifolia. The whitethorn hedges were much 

 discoloured with the m.ines of Cemlostoma scitella. 



A few days amongst the Lepidoptera of Caithness. 



By DOROTHY J. JACKSON. 



Caithness does not appear to possess a very varied lepidopterous 

 fauna, but nevertheless great interest is attached, not only to those 

 species whose favourite haunts are the wild moors and rocky coasts of 

 the far north, but also lo those others, which, spreading northwards, 

 have established themselves firmly where the least encouragement is 

 given them, be it in a hawthorn hedge or a group of storm-bent trees. 



This year — 1910 — I was fortunate in spending a few days of con- 

 tinual sunshine — from August 22nd to 2Gth— collecting in this 

 interesting county, devoting most of my time to the seaccast and the 

 few far-distant woods. The high cliffs which, in most places, border 

 this fiat expanse of country, are provokingly inaccessible, and only in 

 a few parts can descent be made with safety. There was just such a 

 place at Whahgoe, a little fishing -village about eight miles southwest 

 of Wick, and here amongst masses of knapweed and long grass 

 Epinepliele janira, and even Pohiommaius icariis, in worn condition, 

 abounded. Enbolia mensnraria rose up from the herbage on one's 

 approach, and a specimen of Cidaria fidrata was also noticed. Col- 

 lecting on the cliffs at Noss Head produced but a small variety of 



