NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC, 65 



flower is very attractive ; bedding geraniums, I find Sphinx convolviili 

 partial to the rose-coloured varieties ; Salvia pratensis, moths are 

 particularly fond of this plant ; the different vars, of garden iris attract 

 Chcerocampa elpetior occasionally. Shrubs. Lauristinus, the flowers 

 of this attract the sallow moths after that tree is over, so do the flowers 

 of the common laurel, but I do not remember seeing any at the 

 Portugal variety ; lavender, this sub-shrub is one of the greatest attrac- 

 tions to moths in this locaUty, they literally swarm at it (it is a curious 

 fact that whilst the humble bee is continually feasting at its flowers, one 

 never finds the hive bee attracted by it ; tastes differ I presume) ; 

 Althea frutex and vars., I have taken S. convolvuli at the flowers of this 

 shrub on several occasions, also at flowers of rhododendrons and 

 weigeleas. 



Looking over some old memoranda the other day, I came across 

 the following list of insects taken at the flowers of lavender by 

 myself, during the season of 1886; which, I trust, may interest some 

 of the readers of the Entomologisfs Record, as showing how very 

 attractive this bloom is to insects. Pieris brassicce, P. rapce, P. napi, 

 Gonepteryx rhainni, Vanessa urticce, V. atalanta, Cynthia cardui, Pararge 

 egeria, Lycczna alexis, Epitiephele Jatiira, E. iithonns, Cceiionympha 

 paiftphilus, Polyotnmatus p/iloeas ; Alacroglossa stellatarum, Calligenia 

 ininiata, Lithosia complamila, L. griseola and var. stramineola, Viininia 

 r/wiicis, Leucania conii^era, L. lithargyria, L. impura, L. pallens, L. 

 comtna, Xylophasia polyodon, Mamestra brassiccB, Miana strigilis, Apamea 

 oculea, Caradritia alsines, C. ciibicuiaris, Agrotis exdamationis, A. tritici, 

 A. corticea, Triphxna janfhina, T. inferjec/a, T. orbona, T. promtba, 

 Noctua plecta, Phlogophora meticulosa, Euplexia lucipara, Hadena 

 oleracea, Habrosfola itrticce, H. trip/asia, Phtsia chrysitis, P. iota, P. 

 gamma, P. piilchrina, Uropteryx sambucata, Epione apiciar(a, Rtiinia 

 cratcegata, Metrocampa margaritaria, Boarmia repandata, B. rhomboid- 

 aria, Gnophos obsairata, Geometra 7'ernaria, Hemithea thymiaria, 

 Ephyra trilinearia, Acidalia scutulata, A. bisetata, A. incanaria, A. 

 aversaia, A. imitaria, Timandra amataria, Thera obeliscata, Melanthia 

 ocellata, Melanippe motitanata, M. rivata, M.fliictuata, Coremia ferrngata, 

 C. iinidentaria, Camptograinma bilineata, Triphosa dubitaia, Cidaria 

 riissaia, C. immanaia, Eubolia bipunctaria, Anaitis plagiata, Hypena 

 proboscidalis, Zanclognatha grisealis and Rivula sericealis. The row or 

 hedge of lavender at which all these insects were taken, is about 40 

 yards long, and is close to the outskirts of a large plantation, which no 

 doubt, to a great extent, accounts for the number of species taken. — 

 J. Mason, Clevedon Court Lodge, Somerset. 



Hybernating Larv.«. — The cold season seems to have suited 

 hybernating larvae. Very nearly all mine have come through, i.e., 

 Geometra papilionaria, Bombyx quercus (which I was cherishing with 

 much care, thinking they were Trichiura cratcegi, they are a very 

 striking larva when small), Lasiocampa quercifolia, Boarmia 7-epandata, 

 some very minute clematis feeder and two Apatiira iris. The two 

 latter are still dormant, but look plump and well. One has spijn on 

 the stem of the sallow and the other to the midrib of a dead leaf. I 

 hope they will eventually come to life. At present they are covered, as 

 far as I can see, with a thin film of silk. I suppose sleeving out on fresh 

 sallow, as soon as they rouse themselves, is the best course to pursue. 



