NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 181 



time, and were in some cases almost over. Aplecta herbida was in fine 

 condition, and had I been a fortnight earlier would have been plentiful ; 

 as it was, I secured each evening till the i8th (when I left for the 

 Channel Islands) from 4 to 6 specimens. Diphthera orion in one in- 

 stance only gladdened us by putting in an appearance on the sugar, 

 and was promptly boxed. Cymatophora duplaris occurred, but not 

 commonly. Aplecta advena was taken as usual, but sparingly, although 

 it occurred singly even after my return here on July 4th ; during which 

 month every evening produced some welcome addition to the long 

 columns of Noctu^ on the setting boards, of which the best were the 

 Trip/uvna subsequa already noted {ante, p. 156). Of these I captured 

 the first in a wood where I rarely work on account of its greater dis- 

 tance from my quarters (and from supper) ; on July 8th and the fol- 

 lowing evening I took two more in my regularly worked wood, missing 

 a third, which was hustled off by a swarm of T. proniiba whilst I was 

 eagerly boxing the second off the same tree. On the nth I secured 2 

 more in the same wood, and a friend working for me took a fifth 

 specimen in another wood. Three more specimens (making 8 in all), 

 of which the last was worn, turned up singly, the latest being taken 

 July 20th ; its disappearance being marked by the emergence of our 

 eagerly anticipated British-born Colias edusa, of which I saw the first 

 specimen July 21st, flying over a clover field near the Bay. Amongst 

 other species at sugar in more than usual numbers here may be men- 

 tioned Neuria saponarice, Bisnkia ligustri (in ones and twos each 

 evening, almost regularly), Xylophasia hepatica (early, but straggling on 

 almost to end of July), Euplexia lucipara, Noctua brunnea (in grand 

 condition), Mamestra anceps, and the usual retinue of humbler species, 

 amongst which tlie palm for numbers and variety must certainly be 

 given to Triphcvna promiha, of whicli I never saw such a number of fine 

 forms. Of the species which, although regular occurrents, seldom visit 

 sugar, can be noted Toxocampa pastinum (of which for the first time in 

 my own experience I saw several specimens on the sugared trees), 

 Heliothis mari^inatiis (singly), and Cluzrocampa elpenor, which was so 

 unusual a sight amongst the Nocture as, for the moment, to recall the 

 enthusiasm of early days, then evoked even by pronuba. Gonophora 

 derasa was very plentiful, but very easily alarmed, and proved rather 

 troublesome by disturbing other species. Triphcena fimbria and 

 Thyatyra batis have occurred very sparingly. Inuring the early part of July 

 the high winds entirely prevented any useful work on the Downs, but 

 the 13th and 14th proved suitable, and a long round of sugaring pro- 

 duced a very fine series of Agrotis luiiigera, with a few A. hicernen. The 

 latter species turned up in greater numbers on the 29th, in company 

 with A. nigricans. The scarcity of thistles or any suitable blossoms to 

 sugar, necessitated the use of bundles of cut blossom, of which Herac- 

 leum sphondytiuni was the most attractive. A well-sugared bunch of 

 this in a favoured spot, on the 14th, was a magnificent sight, being 

 almost covered with A. lunigera in the grandest condition. Is not 

 this idea capable of application to A. ashwort/iii, which must surely, if 

 given the chance, fall a prey to the same temptation which is so fatal 

 to the other species of the genus Agrotis? Nocture seem early right 

 through up to date of writing, all the following having turned up earlier 

 than usual with me: — T. janihina (28th July), Amphipyra tragopogonis, 



