64 THE entomologist's rkcord. 



these giants " flirting," but was prevented from capturing them by an 

 overhanging branch under which they were gambolling. I was very 

 anxious to obtain this large form thus associated, for it seems possible 

 that we may one day make two species of what now we class as one. 

 Among the Hetemcera I had much more limited opportunities of 

 observation, but a few things taken may be deserving of a passing- 

 notice. I am indebted to Mr. Prout for identifying the Geometrids 

 which I could not name, a large percentage of the few captured. The 

 position of the hotel or my bed-room was unfavourable, and the light 

 abominable, so that I was much less fortunate than usual in obtaining 

 specimens at night. During our last week Catocaia conversu became 

 excessively common everywhere during the day. The first I saw 

 thrilled me with excitement as something entirely new in my experi- 

 ence. It seems to be a species of no consistent habits. At first I 

 thought that it rested only on tree-trunks, and soon I found that it 

 was equally fond of rocks. Sometimes in passing I disturbed half-a- 

 dozen from the surface of one small boulder. Next I found that it was 

 often to be disturbed among herbage at the foot of a tree, as Triipliaena 

 jironiiba with us, and, finally, I saw that it not infrequently was to 

 be seen hovering over flowers after the manner of Plx^in iianima. A 

 larva found fullgrown, and brought back to Guernsey, produced only 

 Orthiisia litiira. Another, a Geometrid, of which I hoped great things, 

 as if enjoying the joke, emerged as Ortholitha peribolata, a species 

 which we are rather proud of possessing as a Guernsey native. Earlj' 

 in .June small whitethorn bushes, and rather less frequently black- 

 thorn, were almost entirely denuded of their leaves by larva^of Aijlaope 

 infaiista. On a coarse species of Henista with hairy seed-pods, 1 took 

 many Zyga?nid-looking larvie which spun up and proved to be 

 Heteni(i!/nis parailo.ra, but probably, from want of attention in the 

 matter of food, pupated too early, and from which only females 

 emerged. I found three smaller, bright pink cocoons of a similar 

 character, spun up among the wiry stems of the plant which attracted 

 L. robiin's. These successfully emerged as H. penndla ^ s. A larva of 

 Cal'icaiiipa I'.roleta fed greedily, and pupated, but has not emerged. 

 Chief among the moths to attract attention in the field was Eiirrantliis 

 pennijierraiia, which dashed wildly about everywhere. Of Fidonia 

 fannda, I took four. The beautiful little Heliothea ducoidaria was 

 common on the rough lower ground in the middle of June, and was 

 soon followed by swarms of the most brilliantly-marked L>/tJma 

 pHrpiiiiOi'a or L. saiKjuinaria .'. Another remarkably abundant and 

 much varied species was Cauiptniiraininabilineata, some of whose forms 

 were wonderfully banded, and presented striking contrasts of colour. 

 Ehodostrop/iia calabroria was in large numbers, and quite the most 

 vivid in colour I have ever seen. The two greatest rarities, teste 

 Mr. Prout, which came into my hands, were two females of the 

 excessively local Perconia bneticaria var. cantiliaria ; these were taken 

 under alder bashes by the banks of a stream, and Acidalia beckeran'a^ 

 where captured I do not remember. Odeda atrata was, of course, 

 very plentiful and large, but as I had not then had the opportunity of 

 reading Dr. Chapman's paper, I am not prepared to say that it was 

 var. p;/renaica. Cra))ibus craterelliis was in extraordinary numbers up 

 to 400 feet above La Granja. Of the Anthrocerids I saw but few. 

 One Antln-ncera Innicerae, one small five-spot, which looks like 



