NOTES ON COLLECTING. 187 



Clieiwatohia bruwata, Hybevnia defoliaria, H. proijcwmaria, and Phiijalia 

 pedaria came down, as well as many AiupJiidafujs strataria, whilst Cosinia 

 trapezina, Amphipyra pyramidta, Dryobota protea, Taeniocaiiipa criida, T. 

 mininsa, etc., were in abundance ; another species obtained was Cleora 

 lichen an' a, larvje of which were very numerous on some of the trees. 

 Some oaks had scarcely any larvfe on them except those of Bithys 

 qtiercii^, but of these I collected over 300 in less than two hours. I have 

 never known larvae of this species so abundant here during all the year:^ 

 I have collected. A ^ Stauropus fayi came down into the tray, and I 

 found two more at rest on oak-trunks. Rylephila prasinana were also 

 not uncommon. I suppose the trees will throw out a second growth 

 of leaves as soon as the larvae are gone, but many are as bare now as in 

 December ! I would also mention that blackthorns are in many 

 cases denuded of leaves by larvse that I presume are Hybernia pro- 

 yeni 111 aria. Of butterflies, the common whites swarmed, but I have 

 not seen Leptidia sinapii^, and, although a large nmnber of ^ Eiichlo'e 

 cardaiiiines was noticed, I have neither taken nor seen a ? ; CallophryH 

 rubi also was verj' abundant this year. Venilia macidafa are out in 

 swarms, whilst, on the moors, Enpithecia nanata, Heliaca arbuti, and 

 Anarta inyrtilli are very plentiful. Of the latter species, one morning 

 recently, I came across a number sitting on heather-tops, just freshly- 

 emerged. A sea-fog crept up, and the moths were so lazy that I was 

 able to box them as they sat. The sallows are full of larvae of Orthnsia 

 lota, Hypsipetcs eliitata, Clenceris riminalis, besides a host of Tortricids, 

 of which I have no knowledge. At the end of April, larvfe of Lasio- 

 campa qiierciis were in numbers in almost every hedge, feeding either 

 on young shoots of Galium violltiijo or bramble. About three weeks 

 ago, great numbers of Pyrameis atalanta put in an appearance 

 suddenly ; the larvae certainly swarmed on every nettle-patch last 

 September, but whether those about are now hybernated examples 

 from those native larvae, or whether they are immigrants like 

 Pyrameis cardni of a few years back, I am unable to say ; at any rate, 

 they appear just as perfect and as brightly coloured as freshly-emerged 

 or bred insects. Celastriva aryiolus was very numerous this spring, 

 flying round holly trees, but generally higher up, usually well out of 

 reach. — Ernest A. Eogers, Kabul House, Teignmouth. June 

 15th, 1909. 



Lepidoptera in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. — I have been collect- 

 ing very energetically this season, and, during the last week, have been 

 to the Mapledurham beech-woods and taken both sexes of Stauropus 

 fagi, 2'ephrofiia consonaria, and Ptilophora plnmiyera larvae, etc. I 

 have also been successful in taking Melitaea cinxia in the Isle of Wight. 

 I have worked Burghtield for pine and birch species, with some success, 

 and in the Tubney district captured Melitaea aurinia, Adscita i^taticrs, 

 Nemeophila plantayinii^, etc. At Birdlip, really a very fine collecting 

 ground, I captured Adscita yeryon, ISenronia reticulata, Hadena dentina, 

 and many Geometrids. Axthena blomeri still occurs there, and was 

 taken by a friend, although not falling to my share. In Pamber 

 Forest, I took Melanippe hastata, Minoa iiiiiriuata, etc., though Leptidia 

 sinapis appears to be rather rare there now. I was indebted to Mr. 

 Holland for an introduction to the "fayi'' woods, but hard and patient 

 work is necessary to ensure success. — Charles Mellows, Union 

 Society, Oxford. June IGth, 1909. 



