lS7n.l 37 



away, revealed to uiy astonished gaze the lovely form and exquisite Diavkings of 

 Diasemia literaJis. I had never before seen it alive, and the mixture of feelings — 

 delight at the sight of so lovely a rarity, and vexation at having no collecting 

 apparatus except a score of pill-boxes — may possibly be imagined. However, the 

 beauty was not disposed to fly far, and, by a little patience and manipulation, it 

 proved possible not only to box it, but to secure a specimen in each of the pill- 

 boxes that I fortunately had with me. The moths were not very plentiful, and ap- 

 peared to be confined to the very short grass and herbage on the slope of the hill, where 

 they remained at rest until disturbed, and then flew but a short distance, often not 

 more than three or four yards. They flew readily when disturbed at any time in 

 the earlier part of the afternoon, both in hot sunshine and under clouds, even in 

 spite of a moderate breeze ; but I could not see any which appeared to fly of their 

 own accord, and am disposed to think that the time of flight is towards evening. 

 I could see no particular indication of their food-plant, unless it is grass, upon which 

 they generally settled, appearing more especially attached to spots which were 

 covered with the leaves of a very short bluish or glaucous grass or Luzula which was 

 not in flower. At the foot of the hill, where the herbage was more rank, not a 

 specimen could be found ; and it seemed wonderful that the delicate creatures should 

 exclusively frequent a spot so devoid of shelter that even Cramhtts pratellus ignored 

 it, and the only species that interrupted the search for Uieralis was an occasional 

 Dicrorampha pUimbana. 



The next morning, with two of the youngsters, I started early for the thirty-six 

 mile drive, armed with plenty of collecting apparatus ; but the weather had changed 

 at last, the long-wished-for rain had come, and at ten miles from home we encoun- 

 tered a storm which sent us home again without unnecessary loss of time, and when, 

 three days later, the weather moderated sufficiently, we found Uieralis getting sadly 

 worn, — which, considering its habitat, was not surprising. 



I see that this species is not entirely new to Wales, a specimen having been 

 taken six years ago at Langharne, in the adjoining county, at light (E. M. M., vol. 

 vii, p. 234). This may throw some illumination on its time of flight, though not 

 much, seeing that the Pyrausta and Ennychiie may occasionally be found in a 

 similar situation. 



As far as I can ascertain, literalis has been a rare insect for many years, the last 

 important recorded capture that I can find being that by Mr. Readi)ig (Intell., 

 vol. ix, p. 18), who took two dozen specimens, on a sloping bank near Plymouth, 

 sixteen years ago. I suppose it has disappeared from the ancient locality near 

 Brockenhurst. — ChAS. Gr. Baheett, Pembroke: 10/A June, 1876. 



P.S. — If any of my old friends and correspondents, who do not possess this 

 s])ecies, will favour me with a line, I will endeavour to save them a type. 



Captures of Lepidoptera in East Sussex. — On tlic 20tli May, the Rev. T. W. 

 Daltry, M.A., of Madcley, Mr. W. H. Tugwell, of Greenwich, and I, made a five 

 days' excursion to East Sussex for the purpose of collecting Lepidoptera. Abbott's 

 Wood and Eastbourne were the localities worked ; and, considering the very cold 

 weather there had been for some time previously, we were quite satisfied with the 

 result of our expedition, over 100 specie.^ being observed, exclusive of Micros. My 



