l32 THE entomologist's record. 



insect world and humanity, cold and wet predominating very largely 

 for the greater part of the time, (inneptcryx rhamni, in fresh 

 condition after hybernation, was seen flying for the first time on the 

 7th of the month, and was constantly on the wing, during bright 

 intervals until the last day of my visit, the 21st. At one locality — 

 a rough field which had a ragged clover crop upon it the preceding 

 autumn, and which had a wild hedgerow with buckthorn growing in 

 it, surrounding the ground — this insect was to be seen by the half 

 dozen or more at a time. On the 9th a single Ewionia pohicldoros was 

 observed flitting about, ]'ancssa to put in an appearance on 18th, 

 19th, and 20th, but was only seen singly, one each day, and in ragged 

 condition. On the same dates Aylais^ nrticae was also to be observed, 

 but in greater numbers, and much fresher in colour than the last 

 named. The results of some half dozen visits to sallow at night, 

 with light, were not very encouraging, though the bushes were in 

 splendid bloom. The only insects present were found to be Taenio- 

 raw/ia t/iitJiira, T. stahilix, '/'. (/rarilis, Sropeloannia aatelUtia, with Aleitcis 

 pktavia and Antidca hailiata. The larva? beaten and found by light or 

 search, were fairly numerous ; but did not offer a great variety of 

 species. They comprised the following : — Arctia caia, first time on 

 the 16th, on which day also Arctia villica was discovered nearly full- 

 fed. iMxiocdiiijxi ijiicrcHs and ('osiiKitric/ir potataria were first found on 

 the 14th fairly wellgrown, and on the 17th and 20th, Kiitricha qnerci- 

 folta also about halfgrown. From the first day to the last of the 

 visit, the larvae next named w^re repeatedly, with few exceptions, 

 stumbled upon — Li'iicania impiira, Apamea didyina, Noctna xantho- 

 rirapha, 'injphacna ji)iibria, one only (this w'as a surprise, as several 

 might have been expected from the number of the insect which came 

 to sugar the preceding autumn), Trupliacna cn))ics and Pldoijophora 

 incticidom. Three visits to the South Downs to beat the bushes of 

 (dciiiotis n't(dba ioY < rt'diiictra (Tr»rt/-/rt, respectively paid on the 9th, 19th 

 and 20th of the month resulted in the obtaining of only a fair number, 

 which were still very small, and in the dark skin of hybernation, for the 

 leaf -buds had only just commenced to appear on the bushes. Subsequent 

 experience, at a later date, proved that it is a mistake to beat for this 

 larva too early in the season, as many things militate against 

 success. In the first place the larva is so small, is so rigid and quiet 

 in the tray, and so exactly resembles the immense mass of rubbish 

 which falls with it, that searching is a most trying ordeal in the cold 

 windy weather. Again, this quantity of rubbish which literally falls 

 in heaps, so evidently injures many specimens, by the mortality shown 

 later, that the net results are not adequate to the labour and dis- 

 comfort involved. If operations can be deferred a few weeks later in 

 the season, the rain and wind will have cleared the bushes naturally, 

 and the beater has the pleasure of seeing the graceful, tapering, larva 

 drop in his tray, made only too evident by its brilliant green appear- 

 ance. With regard to the mechanical operation of the beating of this 

 particular growth, I think it will be found that to insert the stick into 

 the bush, and hustle it about, will yield a more satisfactory bag than 

 to fiog the delicate climber with the usual downward strong stroke. 

 It is certainly more agrc^eable to the feelings of some to find that such 

 a graceful object is not hopelessly ruined in appearance when we have 

 worked our will upon it. Moreover, the larvje obtained by this 



