CAPTURE OF NOCTURNAL LEPIDOPTERA. 



207 



The result of this year disappointed my expectations. I 

 had previously calculated upon a more bountiful harvest : 

 however, sportsman-like, I attributed this to a bad breeding 

 season, — to that mysterious Power which regulates and governs 

 the number and irregular appearance of insects. 



The long continuance of fine beautiful weather in the spring, 

 summer, and autumn of 1833, induced me to expect a highly 

 favourable season for autumnal moths, and for bringing the 

 fruit of the yew-trees earlier to perfection. I determined once 

 more to examine this interesting habitat, and commenced 

 operations on the same night as in the preceding year (10th of 

 October). I found abundance of moths enjoying, as usual, 

 their favourite repast. The fruit was perfectly ripe, and the 

 yew-trees beautifully adorned with fine large berries in the 

 richest profusion ; I lamented that I had not been enabled to 

 arrive sooner, from an idea that several species of the early 

 autumnal moths must have disappeared. I commenced by 

 devoting, on an average, five hours every night for twenty- 

 eight nights, from the 10th of October until the 14th of 

 November. I was highly gratified, and amply repaid for my 

 exertions, by the capture of upwards of two thousand moths. 

 I boxed, on the average, eighty insects per night, of the follow- 

 ing species : — 



Specimens. 

 . . 5 

 . plentiful 



1 



. plentiful 



Specimens. 

 Agrotis 



aequa . 



suffusa 

 Orthosia 



litura ditto 



Pistacina . . . .abundant 



Lota plentiful 



flavilinea . . very abundant 



macilenta . . . abundant 

 Glasa 



rubiginea 



satellitia 



vaccinii 



spadicea 



subnigra 



polita . 

 Xylina 



semibrunnea .... 3 



rhizolitha .... plentiful 

 Calocampa exoleta ... 6 

 Miselia 



Oxyacanthae . . . plentiful 



Miselia Aprilina. 



Polia seladonia . 



Xanthia 



aurago ditto 



citrago 1 



croceago 2 



rufina 2 



Phlogophora 



meticulosa . . . abundant 



very abundant 



ditto 



ditto 



. plentiful 

 . abundant 



Hybernia connectaria $ plentiful 

 Himera pennaria ... 1 

 Euthalia 



miata 3 



Psittacata . . . plentiful 

 Thera variata .... 3 

 Oporabia dilutata . . plentiful 

 Cheimatobia brumata . ditto 

 Margaritia ferrugalis . . 1 

 Sarrothripus degeneranus . 6 



Oncomera Poda^rari£e 



