1897.] _ 87 



pusiUus (i), Trachijs troqlodytes (23), Galerucn tenelJa, Prasocuris 

 heccahungcB, Aphthona ci/anella, Cassida sauffuiiiolenta (1), PhjjUotreta 

 hrassicce (common), Apion temce, &c., Strophosomus faher, SracJri/soiiius 

 echinatus, Alophus triguttafus (I), Sitones crinitus, &c., Tychius to- 

 menfosus ? (three or four), Coeliodes fuliginosus (several), &c , &c. 



A day or two ago I brought home another bag full, but only- 

 found three more of the Trachys, and added Bemhidiuvi gilvipes, 

 Othius melanocejjhalus, and another Cassida sanguinolenta. 



Ererton House, Ipswich : 



March lOth, 1897. 



Morning collecting around the electric lamps. — The illumination of Kingston- 

 on-Thames by the electric light about three years ago has made this district a most 

 valuable one for the collector of moths. Night time is considered by the majority 

 of collectors to be the best ; but having worked the lamps successfully in the mornings 

 for three years, I may safely say that this is the better plan. It has many advan- 

 tages, and the only disadvantage that I have found is that it entails early rising. 

 From 4 to 6 a.m. is the best time, after this there are too many interruptions from 

 the men employed by the Corporation to sweep the roads ; in so doing they sweep 

 away many of the finest moths, wliich generally rest in the gutter. 



For collecting implements you will require a long bamboo fishing rod and a 

 strong cyanide bottle. 



The modus operandi is very difPerent from that employed by those who collect 

 at night time. Starting at the first lamp in the street, you look carefully to see if 

 there are any specimens asleep on the lamp itself; if there are, touch them slightly 

 with the rod, and they will flutter quietly to the ground without attempting to fly 

 away. Having bottled these you look carefully on the ground, shop fronts, pave- 

 ment, or any wood or stone in the neighbourhood of the lamp, and you will almost 

 be sure to find a few more specimens ; indeed, some moths are not to be found on 

 the lamps at all, such as the two " thorns," Ennomos tiliaria and fuscantaria, and the 

 " Sallow " Xanthia verago. When first I started collecting, I used simply to look on 

 the lamps and ignore the shop fronts, &c. ; I thus used probably to miss a good 

 many which I should otherwise have taken. 



The following is a list of the chief moths I have taken during the past three 

 years : — Cossus ligniperda, only one specimen. Sphinx ligiistri, one. Smerinthus 

 ocellatus, S. populi, S. tilice, were very common ; indeed, the hawk moths were very 

 well represented. Hepialus lupulinus, Arctia Caja, Spilosoma luhricipeda, Hitmia 

 crateegata, were in countless numbers. Selenia illunaria, Odontoptera bidentata, 

 Ennomos tiliaria, E. fuscantaria, Fhigalia pilosaria, Biston betularia, were mode- 

 rately common. Memerophila abruptaria was very common. Oi Boarmia repandata 

 one was taken. Abraxas grossulariata was common, but rather worn. Hibernia 

 leucophearia as usual was common, and there were some good varieties. Dicranura 

 furciila, one was taken, rather worn ; 2). vinula was very common, and I took some 

 fine specimens. Pygcera bucephala was in fine condition. Notodonta camelina one 



