NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 103 



to the higher heads of blossom, especially selecting those of the dog- 

 daisies. Sugar was duly tried, but was entirely unproductive, with the 

 exception of one Tceniocampa stabilis, in good condition, although so 

 much behind time. Trunk searching produced a few Nola confusa/is, 

 it my memory serves me, upon trunks of ash trees. As I have never 

 met with this insect before, I am unable to say whether it is of unusual 

 occurrence in the Channel Islands. — Albert J. Hodges, Isle of Wight. 

 /une 2']th, 1890. 



Insects seem to be very early in the neighbourhood of Epping 

 Forest. On May 13th I took Fanagra petniria, Numena pitlveraria, 

 and saw Lyccena argiolus in large numbers ; I also found larvae of 

 Bombyx quercus feeding on blackthorn. I also took the week follow- 

 ing this date, Drepa?ia cu/traria, Eurymene dolabraria, at rest on oak, 

 a fair number of Lyccena argiolus, and four Nola confusalis at rest on 

 oak and hornbeam. May 15th seems to me an early date for the 

 latter species. — W. Mackmurdo. May igfh, 1S90. 



t have found this season so far very good. I found but few spring 

 moths, but have been kept busy with larvte. May 20th I spent a few 

 miles from this town, and took from heather larvje of Noctua neglecta, 

 Agrotis porphyrea, Plusia mterrogationis, Larentia ccesiata, Cidaria 

 n/ssata, Bombyx calliince, and Nemeophila planiaginis, but did not find 

 Liparis fascelifia, which usually occurs there. In the evening " sugar " 

 was useless ; I netted Enpithccia indigata, Coremia ferrugata, Spilo- 

 sotna fiiligtnosa, Bombyx rubi, Cidaria suffumata, and its var. piceata. 

 On June 21st I was out "sugaring" on the moors here, and had 

 splendid sport. I took Acronycta ( Viminid) myricce, A. mefiyanthidis, 

 Hadena adusta (abundant), H. suasa, H. rectilinea (commoner this 

 year than I have seen it since 1882), Rusina tenebrosa, Apameu rurea 

 and vars., Thyatira batis, Agrotis suffusa, Apamea basilinea, A. didy/na, 

 Caradrina cubicularis, Matnesfra gemina, M. aticeps, Noctua plecta, 

 Agrotis porphyrea, and many others. Among Geometers I took 

 Mdcaria liturata, Boartnia npandata, EupitJiecia pumilata, E. satyrata 

 var. caliunaria, E. iaricia/a, E. fianata, E. pulchellata, Cidaria cory- 

 iata, Larentia pectinitaria, Coremia ferrugata, and very many other 

 species. From the heath I gathered a few cocoons ot Dasychira 

 Jasce/ifia, Plusia inferrogationis, and Nemeophila plantaginis, together 

 with larvce of Lriciiiiira crataegi and Larentia ccesiata. Altogether I 

 had good sport, and have never seen insects more plentiful than they 

 are this summer. The prospects are certainly encouraging. I hope 

 my southern friends are finding it the same. — A. Horne, Aberdeen. — 

 June 2T,rd, 1890. 



The season here is very encouraging, larvce in some cases seem 

 superabundant. Fascelifia has been much more common than usual, 

 i'or imagines the east winds have been unfavourable, but several 

 Micros have occurred abundantly, among others, Eiachista argentella 

 and Chorentis scititillulana. Leucania littoral is has already appeared. — 

 H. Baxter, S. Anne's-on-Sea. June 2i^th, 1890. 



I went out yesterday on the cliffs after Af. cinxia, and have pleasure 

 in sending you the result. It is curious that nearly all my captures 

 were females, most of the males, some in cop. with fresh females, were 

 in very battered condition, although I did not see a worn female. I 

 found a healthy larva still feeding on the cliff, which I enclose.' I 

 ^ This has since disclosed a batch of ichneumon cocoons. — Ed. 



