302 THE entomologist's recokd. 



August Lepidoptera in Sutherlandshike. — I spent the last twelve 

 days of August, this year, near Invershin, in Sutherlandshire, and the 

 following notes on the lepidoptera seen in this northern locality may 

 be of interest. Among the butterflies three are worth noting, viz., 

 Krebia aethiupa, Coenonyiitjilia typlion, and An/i/nnis ai/laia. They were 

 all in much finer condition than is usual at this time of the year, C. 

 typhon especially being beautifully fresh. Larv.e were very scarce on 

 the moors last year, but this year those of JMsinramiia ijiicrc/is simply 

 swarmed over them. A\ hether this abundance was local or general 

 over Scotland 1 do not know, but I have never seen such numbers 

 anywhere before. Those of Sdtiimia paronia [carpi ni), on the other hand, 

 were scarce, Pluiretra )neiiya)tt/iiilis was hardly to be found, and I did 

 not come across a single Sjiilosouia fuliyinosa. Near the river, which 

 ran down our Strath, were woods of old birch trees, and I devoted some 

 hours to searching these for larvis. The Notodonts were all unusually 

 late, many being only just out of the egg. The latter is laid on the 

 underside of the leaf, and, by turning over the long twigs at the ends 

 of the lower branches, the little larv^e are easily seen. In this way I found 

 great quantities of Loji/iujitcry.r camelina, a good many Xotadotita ilromi'- 

 ilariioi and an occasional Lidocaiiipa dictaeoides, but my most interesting 

 capture was Ldphoptcryx caniuiita, which was nearly fiiU-fed. Other 

 larva' to be found on these birches Avere those of ]>eiiia.s coryli, Acronicta 

 li'lioriiia, Sdoiia tctraliinaria [illii^tyaria), S. bilunaria, JJistdii hiitaria, 

 and ('idaria vtiata, while some fine aspen trees near by produced larva^ 

 of LeidcaiDjia dictaca full-fed, and ( 'uspidia nn'yaa'jdtala larv* in their 

 first and second instars. Before last year I always thought that the 

 fa\ ourite foodplant of Dniias njryli was hazel, but Avhen staying at 

 Tongue in the extreme north of Sutherlandshire, I found the larva very 

 plentiful on the stunted birches that grow near the sea coast, exposed 

 to the full force of the cold northerly winds. Thelarv»of Bistoii liirtaria, 

 Sdcnia tctraUinaria [illtistraria), and S. bilunaria are not hard to see 

 when you know how to look for them. During the day they sit motionless 

 among the clusters of dead twigs, only moving at night to the fresh 

 leaves. Sugar was more productive than usual, owing to the lateness 

 of the season, which caused many species, usually over, to be still on 

 the wing. L yniatdii/iora duplarix, Xylophana nirea (both the type and 

 the ab. cuiabasta), and X. /ndyodon, including some superb black aber- 

 rations, were pretty abundant. Among the Noctuids, yactiia aiiyiir 

 and N. baia were everywhere in splendid condition ; N. fcstira was 

 common, but rather worn, J\'. da/dii, X. brninica, and A\ ncylccta only 

 showed themselves occasionally. Vysr/iorista siispecta was in fair 

 numbers, and apparently only just out, as I did not see it on the first 

 night. The Epundas — Kimnda Lutulcnta and niyra — are doubtless to be 

 found in the district, but they were not out when I left. I took the latter 

 last year sitting on a stone right out in the middle of the moors. 

 Ajilecta tincta (one specimen) and A. nccalta in some numbers, but in very 

 bad condition, also came to sugar, and I have a brood of larvae from 

 eggs laid by a female A. occulta, which I kept alive for the purpose. 

 The only "Geo" I took at sugar was JJoaruiia rcjiandata, which 

 is very light in colour in this locality, but Larcntia caesiata and L. didy- 

 iiiata were abundant enough i)y day. Last year, on a cliff near Tongue, 

 1 took Larcntia tiariciiictata. It is a very local msect, not moving far 

 from its food-plant, which iu this case was <iaxifruya aizoidcx. — Neville 



