366 THE entomologist's record. 



:]©^OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc. 



Lepidopterological notes from Cornwall. — One hears so little 

 of the entomology of Cornwall that some notes on a recent holiday 

 spent in the north-east and western parts of the county may be 

 interesting. The holiday was not ostensibly for collecting, but a fair 

 amount of evening work was put in, and altogether a good number of 

 interesting species was obtained. The short visit to the Lycaena 

 avion locality was an afterthought, after the holiday had been arranged. 

 Dae to start for Carbis Bay on Monday, July 1st, and never having 

 seen the species alive, I could not resist a run over the ground on my 

 way, so, on the previous Friday evening, I left Paddington by the 

 9 o'clock night train, meaning to pay a flying visit across country 

 from Bodmin Road, and rejoin my wife there again on her journey 

 west on Monday afternoon. Weather, however, was against me, and 

 by 1 p.m., Monday, I had obtained only a few indifl^erent specimens. 

 In hopes of a change, I wired that I should stay one more day, and 

 was well repaid for doing so. On Tuesday morning during an hour's 

 sun, preceding a heavy storm, Lycaena avion was sufficiently plentiful 

 for me to get a nice fresh series, and I left at midday well contented. 

 It is undoubtedly the " common blue " of the district and seems 

 distributed over a fairly large area. So far, at any rate, it has resisted 

 the attacks of collectors, several of whom apparently make lengthy 

 annual visits, working for nothing else, and taking the insects by 

 hundreds. One visitor, I heard, this year had taken away a large 

 number and then supplied a boy of the neighbourhood with net and 

 boxes, and instructions to send him all he could get. I am afraid 

 that in spite of its present abundance, it will scarcely stand working 

 by locals as well as visitors. The weather, bad from a butterfly point 

 of view, was ideal for treacle, and the patches were crowded. My 

 round was a varied one, commencing with a row of posts from the 

 S3a-shore up the valley ; then a dozen trees in a very small apple 

 orchard, and finally finishing in an oak and pine wood on the hillside. 

 A very nice lot of Noctuids occurred. Hahrosyne dcvasa was present 

 in great force, both on posts and trees, often two or three on a patch ; 

 Thyativa Latin and Cyxiatophova diiplavis were not so plentiful and 

 confined to the wood, where Ajdecta Iievhida and A. nebidosa were also 

 present in fair numbers. The principal " post " species was Ayvotis 

 covticea which was in great variety and good condition. A.rylia putvis 

 and Noctiia jdccta were also abundant, especially in the apple orchard, 

 which formed a meeting-place for both the wood and " post " species. 

 Phavetva riDnicis was not uncommon, with occasional Craniophova 

 liyustri, and single Cosshs liynijievila, Lithma coiiiplana, Halias 

 prasinana, Nola cucullatdla, Acvonycta lepovina, Evastvia fasciana, 

 Neuria reticulata, and Mamestra anceps. A fair number of Apamea 

 yemina, Mania mauva, Hadena dentina, H. ]iisi, and H. thalassina 

 occurred, and lots of common Noctuids and Agrotids helped to swell a 

 long list. Geometrids Avere also well represented, Bnavwia vepandata 

 being the most plentiful and Cleova lichenavia the best of them. 

 Other butterflies were abundant during the small amount of sunshine, 

 but were altogether neglected for Lycaena avion. I noticed Avyynnis 

 ai/laia not uncommonly, fine and fresh, and Hippavchia semcle, 

 abundant and large. Four Lencopjliada sinapis (early brood) occurred 



