320 THE entomologist's record. 



(Bastelica) flying over bracken. It is abundant on the Scalella Pass 

 between Bastelica and Bocognano (height of pass about 1200 metres), 

 that is to say, the male is ; the female is always rare. I took males 

 there on July 13th, 15th, 21st and 24th. They are found some 

 distance to the south of the pass, but do not reach down to the trees on 

 the steep Bocognano side. One female only was taken here (July 15th), 

 but I saw another on the 21st. The specimens at this height average 

 rather smaller than those lower down, and the proportion of pale 

 males is greater. Again, in clearings in the Vizzavona forest, A. elisa 

 was not rare. Blackberry flowers seem to have little attraction for it, 

 but a low-growing spiky thistle, with a large, almost colourless flower, 

 is a great favourite. This grows on the Scalella and other high passes. 

 I have also seen it feeding on the flowers of heather. 



Passing through the Aitone forest above Evisa, on August 8th, I 

 saw a good many. They were mostly feeding on the flowers of a 

 composite plant, nearly related, I should say, to the Jerusalem arti- 

 choke. The plant grows in damp places, generally along the water- 

 courses. It is very attractive also to Dryas paplda and its varieties, 

 Issoria lathonia and Vanesm io. Much higher up, where the forest 

 thins out, A. dim was very common. I saw dozens on the above 

 mentioned thistle, nearly half being females, but the season was too 

 far advanced for many good specimens. I did manage to net a few 

 fresh ones, however. The insect here reaches an altitude of 1400 

 metres at least. The top of the Vergio pass is 1464 metres. I did 

 not actually see any on top, but no doubt stray specimens often get 

 there. Again, on the Ghisoni side of the Col de la Sorba (1305 

 metres), A. elisa was plentiful on August 11th. I saw a few very 

 fresh females but only managed to take one. 



Microlepidoptera in the Hailsham district. 



By A. SICH, F.E.S. 

 I spent a few days in mid-June in the company of my brother, 

 Mr. H. Leonard Sich, in the Hailsham district. The weather was not 

 altogether propitious, as a great deal of rain fell during the period. 

 Mirrojiteri/A- scppella was common in the wetter meadows, flying just 

 above the grass, settling on flowers and also on the lower branches of 

 birch and other trees. Adela fibulella occurred on Veronica blossoms, 

 and A. deijeerella was just going over in the woods. On the woodw^ork 

 of barns and on treetrunks Tinea cloaceUa and T. semifulcella were taken, 

 as well as Monojds riisticella. Nepticida raficapitella was seen egg- 

 laying on an oak-leaf, and afterwards laid several ova in a glass-topped 

 box. Ova were also obtained from some specimens of Cemiostoma 

 lahurnella which were beaten from laburnum. These were laid on the 

 hairs of the lower surface of the leaf, and, therefore, it appears as 

 though the larva on hatching must be exposed to the atmosphere 

 while boring into the leaf. This is not the case wdth Coniostoina 

 spartifoliella, which bores through the bottom of the egg into the 

 broom twig, nor, indeed, with the greater proportion of the leaf 

 miners. One Boikhamenia tinctella was taken and one or two B. 

 tnpimcta were beaten from an old mixed hedge in a dark lane over- 

 hung with trees. Passing some pine-trees late one afternoon 

 (June 14th), I tapped the lower branches and noticed some small 



