1906.] 259 



Halonota pflugiana and a few Grapholifha campolilinna had just emerged. The 

 onlj Tortrix that was really abundant was Graphnlitha nxvana, var. geminana, 

 which occurred in multitudes wherever any bireh bushes could be found to grow. 

 P. mixtana was about, but much woi*n, and I took one Clepsis rusticana. 



Moving southwards to Aviemore about the 12th of the month, insects were 

 much more in evidence. Argynriis selene and euphrosyne, Cosnonyvipha pawphilus, 

 and Lycwna alexis, wei'e as yet the only butterflies, if we except the two smaller 

 whites. 



On the 16th, driving homewards through the forest of Kothiemurchus, about 

 an hour and a half before sunset, I came upon a patch of ground which was evi- 

 dently the chosen home in that district of Bomhyx richi. It was a fine sight to see 

 the males careering over the moor with their peculiar waving flight ; then suddenly 

 yielding to some impulse, one of them would every now and then soar straight up- 

 ward at headlong speed till the eye could no longer follow it ; and after a half 

 minute or so would swoop down as rapidly and subside beneath the thick heather. 

 During a drive of nearly a quarter of a mile fhis spectacle was renewed again and 

 again ; yet, strange to say, though we passed through similar scenery for at least 

 half an hour not another ruti presented itself ; nor did I see the insect anywhere 

 else during my tour. The day was an extremely hot one, and this may have 

 accounted for the strange antics performed by the insect ; but one could not help 

 marvelling at the prodigious vitality manifested, and the abandon of enjoyment 

 evidently experienced. I was forcibly reminded of the drumming snipe in Wicken 

 Fen at the same season of the year. 



I expect a search for larvae would have well repaid the collector. The few that 

 I turned up were mostly common species : Poecilocampa p>opuli, Cheimatnhia brum- 

 ata and horeata, Hyhernia dejoliaria, Hypsipetes elutata, *Cdbera pusaria and exan- 

 themata, but I could not search at night, which is the best method of obtaining 

 them. 



Among Noctuse, Cymatophora dnpJaris was common by beating, Xylophasia 

 rurea and Hadena dentina on posts. Among the Qeometrse, one specimen of Eupi- 

 thecia virgaureata, a few ahsynthiata, saiyrata, and helveticaria, the latter nearly 

 over. The beautiful white var. of Cidaria corylata, was rare. No other species 

 of interest was seen. 



The Tortrices were beginning to appear in numbers. Besides most of the 

 Sutherlandshire species, T found Amphysa gerningana, Penthina sauciana and mar- 

 ginana, Coccyx vacciniana', C. ustomaculana, Mixodia, schulziana, Phoxopteryx 

 uncana, P. unguicana, Bicrorampha plumiagana, and tanaceti,' Stigmonota cogna- 

 tana and cosmophorana, Catoptria cana, Pcedisca bilunana, EpMppiplwra cirsiana 

 and a melanic form of Spilonota ocellana. 



The Tineina were more interesting. Nemophora swammerdaynella, N. schwartz- 

 iella and pilella, all uncommon. Plutella dalella and annulatella. Gelechia solu- 

 tella, in splendid condition, G. ericetella, swarming everywhere ; 0. sequax, a very 

 fine form, and G. proximella. Jncurvaria muscalella and oshlmanniella, Swammer- 

 damia griseocapitella, CEcoplwra subaquilella, Gracilaria tringipennella and elongella, 

 Argyresthia conjugella and arceuthella, Glyphipteryx thrasonella, Pavcalia leuwenhoe- 

 kella, Elachista Mlmunella and eleochariella. Coleophora fuscedinella, ocJirea, junci- 

 * Surely, larvas of C. pusaria and exanthemata would not be found in the middle of June,— G. T. P. 



