117 



NOTES ON LEPIDOPTEBA TROM GIBRALTAR AND THE 

 SURROUNDING COUNTRY. 



BY CAPTAIN J. J. JACOBS, li.E. (rET"^), M. I. MECH. E., F.E.S. 



Tlie following field notes on the LepidoiAera and other insects, of 

 which many species have previously Ijeen recoi'ded from the district 

 observed and collected l)y me dviring the time I was stationed at 

 Gibraltar, from the end of 1909 until June, 1912, may I trust, be of 

 some little assistance to future collectors and students of Natural 

 History, who I feel sure will add still more to our knowledge of the 

 insect fauna of the above-named region. 



As Tangier (Marocco) is only 30 miles from Griljraltar, and is 

 easily accessible three times a week by steamer, I have embodied my 

 experience of that district in these notes. Flying visits were also 

 made to Malaga and Granada, but only about 30 specimens in 

 all were taken by me at both localities. At the latter place, liow- 

 ever, Messrs. G. 0. Sloper and A. H. Jones, Avhose acquaintance 

 I had the pleasure of making in Gibraltar, met with a considerable 

 number of Illiopalocera. My efforts were mostly confined to Gibraltar 

 itself and the Spanish country to the north, as far as the summit of 

 the Sierra Carbonera ; to the north-west as far as the celebrated Cork 

 Woods near Almoraima Station, and to the west as far as the Water- 

 falls beyond Algeciras ; also occasionally to the south-west as far as 

 Cape Spartel (Marocco), and on one occasion to Tarifa (Spain). 



I found the Spanish people around Gibraltar very hospitable, the 

 doors of their " Casas " were always open, and they were ever ready to 

 render what assistance they could. The offer of " un muchacho " (a 

 boy) to carry our bags, in the hot weather, was always acceptable to 

 " Los caballeros de las mariposas y palomas " (the gentlemen of the 

 butterflies and moths), as we were named by them. 



As compai'ed with Britain, collecting Lepidoptera in this region 

 during one's spare time is, on the whole, much slower work than one 

 would expect, but is full of surprises and mterest. The cjuantity and 

 variety of insects of other oi-ders one sometimes sees, is amazing. 

 The large conspicuous ant-lion, PaJpares lihelluloides, L., with wings 

 marked like tortoise-shell, is often plentiful in the vicinity of corn 

 fields. Nemopfera hipennis, 111., like miniature aeroplanes, disport 

 themselves over herbage in waste places. Bees and wasps, conspicuous 

 amongst which are the large and beautiful Scolia flavi/rons, Fab., 

 and 8. bidens, Linn., are seen in great variety, and most flowering 



