NOTES OX COLLECTING, ETC. 281 



species is reared in such abundance on the Continent, that there 

 should be no difficulty with the species here. Of the Sesiidce, Sesia 

 scolicefonnis is reported as bred from three distinct parts of Scotland, 

 whilst, thanks to one or two hard workers, S. sphegiformis is no longer 

 a rarity in our collections. Zygcena exulans was taken at Braemar, 

 and Z. nubigena commonly in Galway. I myself captured a remarkable 

 race of a Zygcefia, some specimens five, others six, spotted ; which 

 might with equal propriety be called Z. trifolii or Z. filipendulce. 

 They were out from about the 20th May, and over by the 26th of June, 

 before the ox^xwxxy filipendulce were on the wing. Of the Bombyces, 

 Bombyx trifolii still maintains its ground at Wallasey, whilst a note 

 sent to me in the early part of the year, stated that some British male 

 G. ilicifolia had been captured by assembling with females bred from 

 foreign larvre. This must be taken in faith ! The success of Mr. 

 Holland with Stauropus fagi has been quite phenomenal, and many 

 friends besides myself have to thank him for his generosity. Of the 

 LifhosidcT, Lithosia sericea has again been taken by the '\\'arrington 

 collectors, on whom the mantle of the Liverpool collectors of a quarter 

 of a century ago seems to have fallen. Deiopeia pulchella has been an 

 insect of the season, several immigrants having been noted, but the 

 number of late autumn specimens, probably the progeny of the early 

 ones, has been very small. Callimorpha Jura, probably like Sphinx 



piiiastri originally introduced, is now always to be found in its favoured 

 haunts. With relation, however, to such species as these, it is much 

 to be regretted that the early records are not buried in oblivion. The 

 method of dragging up histories, in which no one believed at the time, 

 is much to be regretted, as it tends to obscure the facts of the case to 

 our younger collectors, who do not know the particulars of each 

 instance. Among the Geometr/e we have but few rarities which are 

 obtainable even in the best seasons. If rare members of this group are 

 bona fide British, a female is almost sure to be obtained, and a number 

 bred. Lythria purpuraria and such species never had a right to a 

 place in our lists. Eiipithecia extensaria, E. togata, Cidaria reticulata, 

 Phorodesvia smatagdaria, and similar species have been bred so largely 

 for " exchange " purposes, that they are no longer to be compared with 

 the rarer NocxUiE, Sphinges, etc. As a matter of fact, Camptogramma 



fliiviata is a rarer species by far than any of those mentioned. There 

 are no records yet of Phibalap'eryx lapidata or Eiipithecia innotata, but 

 probably both species have been taken by those who specially work for 

 them ; whilst Eiipithecia helveticata was taken in fair numbers in Scot- 

 land, Of NocTU.B, great takes are recorded. During the lovely 

 weather of the latter part of May and June, lasting until about the 

 second week of July, Nocture simply swarmed at sugar. To mention 

 species of the calibre of Moma orion, Bisulcia ligustri, Cuspidia alni, 

 which came freely, in some cases abundantly, would fill half a page, 

 and perhaps it will be best only to mention the specimen of Cloantha 

 ptrspicillaris, captured by Lieut. Brown, and Ophiodes lunaris, captured 



» by Mr. Austin, both in the Folkestone district, and both by hard 

 working entomologists who well deserved their luck. In the early 

 part of the year, fen insects were in great abundance, Afeliana fiamniea 

 being especially abundant. Nonagria canmt has been again captured, 

 and Tapinostola concolor has, I believe, again occurred in some plenty 



G 



