NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 17 



During the summer of 1888 I was fortunate enough to take a very 

 long series of this species, and of the total number, certainly four-fifths 

 were taken within ten feet of the edge of the cliffs. It is also to be 

 noticed that those thistles growing upon the open turf are not nearly 

 so attractive as those growing amongst the loose chalk rubble in the 

 crevices and upon the face of some of the seaward slopes. This 

 confirms the idea that litnigera by day rests among?;t the loose chalk 

 upon these slopes, and in the crevices which abound along its favourite 

 haunts. At the same time, it adds very considerably to the danger and 

 ditiiculty of its capture, as it often occurs that the adventurous collector 

 may hear, in the stillness of night, the rattle of the loose chalk 

 dislodged by his footsteps, dashing from rock to rock, until drowned by 

 the roar of the waves 500 feet beneath. This, in my opinion, enhances 

 the pleasure and excitement of the pursuit, but upon this point I am 

 told my views are peculiarly my own. At the same time, it is an 

 undoubted fact that the thistles growing in these spots are by far the 

 most remunerative to work, and I have a vivid recollection of my 

 pleasure in taking between twenty and thirty fine lunigcra, one by one, 

 off a single isolated thistle in such a position ; this was, however, 

 during an exceptionally good season, when all the Agrotid^ occurred in 

 unusual plenty. 



Those collectors of a more cautious disposition will find, if thoroughly 

 worked, that the commoner thistle {Carditis acanthoidcs), the knapweed 

 {Centmirea ?ngra), and even the cow parsnep i^Heracleum splwuidylium), 

 which are to be found in more accessible situations along the inland 

 foot of the Downs, will yield a {^.w stray specimens especially in a 

 favourable season. 



A. liinigera varies considerably in common with the other Agrotid.e, 

 in the time of its emergence. 1 have found it as early as the first week 

 in July, and have also known it not to appear till quite the middle of 

 that month ; and then a succession of emergences continues until 

 August, during which month I have taken them in good condition until 

 the 15th ; the males emerging rather earlier than the females. 



With regard to " light," there is no doubt that were the locality 

 suitable for that method of collecting, hniigera could be taken in that 

 way; but owing to the great elevation, any light, however small, is very 

 conspicuous, and at once draws down upon the collector a visit from 

 the coastguards, of whom, however, my impressions are much more 

 favourable than of the average game-keeper. Their regulations, how- 

 ever, will not admit of the use on the cliffs of any light sufficiently 

 powerful to be of much use. 



It is supposed by some that our A. lunigei-a is but a variety of the 

 Continental species A. trux,^ but I trust the further investigation that 

 may be brought to bear upon the subject, should these few notes enable 

 collectors to become better acquainted with this species, may confirm 

 the position that A. lu/ngera occupies in our British lists. 



Albert J. Hodges, 2, Highbury Place, N. 



"Assembling" Amphidasys prodromaria. — Having been fortunate 

 enough some two or three years ago, to capture a ? prodromaria at 

 rest on a tree trunk (about 5 feet from the ground) in a wood near here, 



'This point is quite unsettled still, owing, probably, to the few British specimens 

 which have found their way into the best Continental collections. — J.W.T. 



C 



