1877.] 251 



made, however, in favour of Herbida cespitalis -whicli kept flitting about in the sun- 

 shine wherever a hollow provided a little shelter from the breeze. This species 

 could hardly have claimed attention but for the unusually large size and bright 

 colouring of the specimens : the males varying from reddish-ochreous and red-brown 

 with pale olive bands (far brighter when alive than when pinned and set) to the 

 usual dull colour, while the females were almost bright enough for PyraustcB. Con- 

 sequently it became necessary to secure some, not always an easy task between 

 bright sunshine and strong wind, but the difficulty changed its character when the 

 wind fell at 8 p.m., for we then witnessed the most extraordinary sight of the kind 

 that has ever come under my observation. Cespitalis then begun its evening flight, 

 and at every step actual clouds of them started up and flew around us. I say 

 clouds, for no other tei-m expresses the numbers. They all flew at the same level, a few 

 inches above the short turf, reminding one, as they skimmed away in every direction, 

 of vast flocks of sheep fleeing in masses from the foot of an intruder. In fact, it is 

 difficult to convey the impression given by such countless multitudes flying all in 

 precisely the same manner, — it must be seen to be appreciated. 



A month later, a young friend came down from London, and we again spent 

 an afternoon along the cliffs ; but we came almost too late for the birds, the vast 

 hosts of "elligooks " had gone away to sea, but the sides of the Stack Rocks were 

 still occupied by the kitty wakes, and peeping carefully over into one of the chasms, 

 we saw what looked like a strange and most lovely species of small gull, which 

 turned out, on further observation, to be the young of the kittwake full-grown and 

 fledged, and probably nearly ready to accompany its parents in their approaching 

 period of homeless wanderings. 



The lower slopes of the inaccessible Stack Eocks were visibly covered with the 

 tree mallow (Lavatera arhorea) in full bloom, and the cliffs even bright with blooming 

 Limlarda crilkmoides, and other rock-f)lants ; but again Lepidoptera were very scarce. 

 We had previously beaten out a few small insects in the lanes — Scopula lutealis 

 commonly, Urachytoenia semifuscana, Peronea Schalleriana, and Semasia populana, 

 among the sallows, — but nothing remarkable, and now the rocks bade fair to be even 

 less productive. However, a momentary glimpse of a silvery bar across velvety 

 black wings awakened interest, since I had never before found EnnycMa cingulalis 

 at home, and we commenced a systematic investigation. It was hard, however, to 

 find the little beauty's favourite haunt, and when at last discovered it could hardly 

 be considered satisfactory. Just where the sloping slippery grass reached the 

 ragged edge of the tremendous precipice, was whei'c citigulalis loved to rest and flit 

 about, and catching it amounted to sport with a decided spice of danger. But 

 again sunset favoured us. We had passed along to an awful chasm, long and 

 narrow, almost meeting at its outer end, but with a sheer wall of perpendicular rock 

 on each side, and called, from a local tradition, the Hunter's Leap. Along the edge 

 of this chasm, and flying out over it, was cinc/ulalis in some plenty, and to get it wa 

 were obliged to creep down a smooth slope and cling with one hand to the herbage 

 wliile making random sweeps of the net along the edge with the other, each sweep 

 bringing in perhaps two or tliree cauglit flying or sitting on the thrift and other 

 overhanging plants. It was dangerous work, but wo secured some of the most lovely 

 specimens I ever saw, two or three of the females having the second yellowish fascia 

 (near the base of the fore-wings) strongly marked. So attractive were they, that 

 before we had explored the Hermit's Cell, at St. Govins, and its miraculous well, the 

 dusk was coming on, and driving clear of the blocks of limestone, with which the 

 track (called a road) is profusely studded, became a work of absorbing interest. — 

 CiiAS. G. Baerett, Pembroke : lath December, 18VG. 



