16 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



Portland, its localities are specially worked rbr other species, its favourite 

 haunts are in great measure neglected by our collectors. 



In a westerly direction from Portland, I have taken it sparingly upon 

 Beer Cliff, near Seaton, whence its range is again extended to Torquay, 

 where it was taken in some ])lenty, years ago, by Henry Rogers of 

 Freshwater, Isle of Wight, one of our old collectors, who, in conjunction 

 with the late Frederick Bond, was one of the first to make a practical 

 acquaintance with this species. Further wesr again, it extends into 

 Cornwall, and is also taken in some numbers in Ireland, while in a 

 more northerly direction it was taken at Tenby in 1888. It is also 

 stated to have been reported from Flintshire and Scotland, but no 

 further particulars are given as to these localities. 



It is in all these localities exclusively a coast species, and its range 

 inland is more limited than is usual with coast insects ; in fact so much 

 so, that unless worked for almost along the actual sea-line, it may be, 

 and probably is, often overlooked. The following iew remarks from 

 my own experience refer chiefly to the western end of the Isle of 

 Wight, whence, except for the Irish specimens, most of those in our 

 collections have been obtained. 



The collector who wishes to take a long series, in which he will be 

 amply repaid by the variation to be met with, must be sound of wind 

 and limb, and may at the end of the season, which in favourable 

 circumstances will last nearly a month, consider himself as fairly 

 qualified for membership with the Alpine Club. The cliffs, upon 

 which I have been most successful, vary in height from 400 feet to 600 

 feet, and present much broken ground which entails considerable 

 difficulty in working, especially after dark. 



A novice, particularly if accustomed to inland or forest collecting, 

 would be much puzzled as to the best methods of sugaring (which is 

 the most productive way to obtain this insect) ; however, a clost r 

 examination will discover plenty of suitable plants upon which to sugar. 



Of these, the best in my experience, is a sturdy species of thistle 

 {Onoporduin acanthi urn) which grows in isolated spots along the whole 

 range of cliffs ; but where this does not occur, the dwarf or stemless 

 thistle {Carduus acaulis) will serve as a substitute. I have also found 

 the long upright spikes of the common beet {Beta vidgaris) very 

 attractive when sugared, but the great objection to these is that they 

 are so easily swayed by the slightest breeze, thereby considerably 

 adding to the difficulty of "boxing" the desired insects. While on 

 this subject, I may add that it is preferable to have a smaller and less 

 open lantern than the pattern oniinarily used in sugaring, as it is a 

 matter of great difficulty to keep the latter alight if at all windy, 

 owing to the elevation and exposed nature of the ground. 



It is also well, considering the dangerous nature of the locality and 

 the absence of landmarks, to prospect the ground during the day, and 

 in selecting the plants for sugaring, it must be borne in mind that it is 

 only those on or quite adjacent to the extreme edge of the cliffs, that 

 will prove really prolific ; and with regard to this fact, I think it is only 

 those of steady nerves, who, after prospecting the ground with that fact 

 in view, will still consider hinigera to be worth working for.^ 



^ Mr. Hodges is right. He took me over his sugaring ground on the night of July 

 24th, 1889. He could not persuade me to go again. Those who get lunigei-a 

 deserve it. — J.W.T. 



