LEPIDOPTEROLOGICAL NOTES FROM FRESHWATER. 205 



polyodon and Caradrina taraxaci, with a smattering of other things, 

 were in numbers, and still coming when I left. 



Strange species visit the Downs on a good night. Noctua festiva 

 was always common, and Habrosyne derasa fairly so; but more re- 

 markable were Hylophila prasinana and Boarmia repandata-. Strangest 

 of all was a worn female of Acosmetia caliginosa, on July 20th. This 

 puzzled me considerably, and for some time I had vague ideas of an 

 addition to the British list. I was only familiar with the male, but a 

 visit to South Kensington soon settled my doubts. Agroiis lucernea 

 was unaccountably absent, one fine specimen on the 14th being the 

 only representative, and A. cinerea (a nice whitish form) was remark- 

 ably late ; three very decent males turned up on July 20th, and odd 

 ones on the 13th, 14th, and 21th, the last in quite good condition. 



During the first few days the moth of the moment, however, was 

 Agrotis corticea. It already wanted picking over for condition, but 

 was in countless numbers and great variety. Contrary to one's 

 expectations for a chalky district, dark forms were more numerous 

 than pale ones, and some very striking varieties were taken. On 

 July 20th, a specimen was found eagerly feeding on treacle, although 

 only just emerged, with wings quite undeveloped. I boxed it and left 

 it quietly on the ground, and in half-an-hour it was fully expanded. 



These are the more interesting moths taken at treacle on the 

 Downs, but among many others, the following occurred : Hadena 

 dentina (a nice pale form, commonly), Noctua rubi (very ochreous), 

 Xylophasia sublustiris (three, July 31st), Mamestra anceps (on the earlier 

 nights), nice white forms of Miana bicoloria, and occasional Neuria 

 reticulata. Caradrina ambigua never occurred, but all the four common 

 species of the genus were in evidence, especially C. taraxaci. 



Treacle in a wood bordering the marsh near Freshwater was only 

 tried once (July 27th), and attracted Craniophora ligustri, Thyatira 

 batis, Habrosyne derasa, Triphaena fimbria, Agrotis corticea (one), A. 

 nigricans, Apamea gemina, Xylophasia sublustris (about a dozen), X. 

 hepatica, Lithosia lurideola, Lencania straminea, L. conigera (in plenty), 

 numbers of Caradrina taraxaci (more on ragwort than on trees), Bivula 

 sericealis and Rhodophaea suarella. 



The neighbouring marsh was worked at dusk more frequently. 

 ilia emutaria was almost over, five specimens on July 16th being 

 all I took, and although these were in fair condition, I saw none after- 

 wards. Mr. Kaye, however, took a couple the following night. Odd 

 Toxocampa pastinurn were taken on the 16th by Mr. Kaye, but I did 

 not find their headquarters until the 21st, when I netted 25, and 

 Mr. Kaye another dozen, in a grassy field where the foodplant grew 

 freely. This ground was all cut the next day, and, with the exception 

 of an occasional specimen in the marsh, T. pastinurn was practically 

 finished. As the species rarely comes to treacle, it is worth mention- 

 ing that Mr. Kaye took a couple on some small posts that he had 

 treacled, the night after the grass was cut. Leucania straminea 

 occurred at dusk in the reed beds in fair numbers. Many were 

 "bald," and they were, moreover, difficult to distinguish on the wing 

 from the much commoner L. impura, but, in the end, about a dozen 

 good ones were taken. Nonagria gendnipuneta pupae occurred in the 

 same place, especially where the reeds were growing close into the 

 wood. The larvae apparently always entered fresh stems for pupation. 



