286 THE entomologist's record. 



got Axylia ptitris, Phytometra cenea and Gnophos obscurata. A visit to 

 Corfe Castle produced Eubolia paliunbaria, Selidosema plumaria and 

 Gnophos obscuiata. Swanage, which I invaded shortly afterwards, 

 proved a more profitable field for entomological operations. My special 

 object was to catch Hesperia actcBon, and at first I failed to find the 

 locality. This, however, was not an unmixed evil as it led to my 

 getting some famous sport with Bombyx quercus, which was literally 

 swarming on the cliffs above the town. The wind was very strong, and 

 quercus was almost impossible to catch, but the quantity was so great 

 that it was difficult to avoid an occasional accident, and I got a couple 

 of males, as well as one each of Lycana alsus, Eubolia bipunctaiia and 

 Aspilates citraria. Soon after twelve o'clock I found one very restricted 

 locality for adczon. The insect, however, was very scarce here, and 

 difficult to obtain owing to the wind and the rugged nature of the 

 ground, and an hour's work only producing one specimen I determined 

 to try the other side of the bay. A walk of about a mile and a half 

 brought me to a promising grassy slope close to the sea, and here 

 aciceon at once appeared. I soon had a dozen, nearly all females, and 

 subsequent visits to this spot resulted in my getting a fine series, as well 

 as one Lyccena corydon, a lot of ZygcE)ia filipendulce and Lyc(zna agestis. 

 Other insects seen in this favoured spot were Melanargia galatea, 

 Satyrus viegcera, S. semele, Lyccena alexis, L. agon, Vanessa urticcE, V, io 

 and V. cardui, I have heard and read a good deal about the probable 

 extinction of aciceon, but such an event certainly seemed very remote 

 when one saw the hundreds of "skippers " that rose as if by magic out 

 of the grass and herbage whenever there was a gleam of sunshine. 

 They were nearly all acUeon. I took one H. thauiuas, but this species 

 and sylvanus really seem here to bear about the same proportion to 

 actceon as it elsewhere to them. The seclusion of the Swanage 

 locality, and the impracticable, not to say dangerous nature of the 

 ground — I had, on an average, about three falls for every specimen I 

 took — will probably serve to protect the "skippers" for a good many 

 years to come. On August 19th I left Bournemouth, accompanied by 

 the other members of ray family, for Lyndhurst, starting early with the 

 intention of landing at Brockenhurst and working through the woods 

 to our destination. In Stubby Copse we met with Vanessa polychloros, 

 but could not catch him. Satyrus cegeria and other members of the 

 common herd were very abundant, and a few very worn specimens of 

 Argynnis paphia, A. adippe, and Linienitis sibylla appeared also, ^^'e 

 saw one or two var. valezina, which were battered almost beyond 

 recognition. Gonopieryx rhamni abounded in the more open spots. 

 After a few more ineffectual shots at polychloros we emerged upon the 

 heath and took Anarta myrtilli in beautiful condition, but other moths 

 were not forthcoming, a few Cosinia trapezina, Boarniia repandata, 

 various species of Cidaria and Eubolia palumbaria being all that 

 appeared, and these mostly worn. Shortly after one o'clock my sister 

 with a really good stroke brought down Apatura iris — a very worn 

 male. In Beeching Lane we again found polychloros, Ennomos angu- 

 laria, Ephyra punctaria, and a swarm of very seedy Thecla quercus. In 

 due course we arrived at Lyndhurst, and in the evening set out for 

 Hurst Hill Enclosure. No sooner was the sugar on the trees than 

 several Catocala sponsa appeared. They were very skittish, however, 



