82 THE entomologist's record, 



as usual was common in gardens, the larvae feeding on cabbage. The 

 North of Scotland is not rich in Pterophori ; they were rather more 

 abundant this year than usual. I have, I believe, at last succeeded in 

 identifying the Plume Avliich I found on ragwort, Avith Fhityptilia 

 bertrami,* having found them in some abundance on Achillea millefolmm ; 

 probably this species does not confine itself exclusively to Achillea. I 

 have not again found the larvai on ragwort, so it does not apj^ear to 

 be common on that plant. One P. gonodaciyla was captured on the 

 railway near Pitcaple ; larvae were also found on Tussilago farfara. 

 This is a very rare insect in Aberdeenshire, and does not occur fre- 

 quently anywhere in the North. Amhhjptilia acanthodactyla was com- 

 mon at Forres, and elsewhere, flying over the heath by day. I noticed 

 them in more abundance than usual. MimcBseoptilus hipunctidactyla 

 larvee were not uncommon on Scabiosa Kuccisa ; the imagines were 

 also noticed on a wet heath at dusk. The larvee of M. pterodactyla 

 were common everywhere on Veronica chamcedrys. While at Braemar 

 last year, with Mr. Maddison of Durham, Ave discoA'ered Aciptilia 

 tetradactijla among Thymus serpyllum in Glen Sluggan near Braemar. 

 This season 1 again managed to secure a few in anotlier locality 

 near Braemar. I have never heard of this species being found 

 in Scotland before. The beautiful little Alncifa hexadactyla was 

 fluttering about everyAvhere on quiet e\xnings among Lonicera peri- 

 clymenum. 1 do not think any of the Crambidce were particularly 

 abimdant. With the excei)tion of C. myelins I have seen all the others 

 in greater abundance in former years. Crambus pratellus was seen 

 almost CA^eryAvhere, flying at dusk, among grass. A very small and 

 obscure A'ariety Avas noticed on the hills near the Hotel at Glen Shee. 

 C. dumetellns Avas scarcer than xisual. I saAv seA^eral near Braemar, and 

 succeeded in i)icking up a tine series Avhile Avorking on Scliiehallion 

 near Kannoch ; this species is generally considered a nocturnal insect. 

 It may l)e nocturnal in its habits elseAvhere, Init in Scotland, it is gene- 

 rally abundant enough in ordinary years, flying in the sunshine. I 

 have seen it flying in dozens on the Gull)in Sands at Forres, on quiet 

 Avarm days. I only secured two C. ericellus, they were both in bad 

 condition, and Avere found on Carn a' Bhealaich at dusk. Several C 

 furcatcUns — nearly all in jioor condition — Avere taken ; they occurred 

 on the southern slopes of a hill a little to the east of Cairn wall ; the 

 locality appeared to be all that one could desire for the species, but the 

 sun kept under the clouds, and this insect Avill onlj' fly in the 

 sunshine, on (piiet Avarm days. It occurs on grassy slopes on several 

 of the mountains near Braemar, and elscAvhere, at aboiit 3,500 feet ele- 

 vation. C. margaritellm Avas taken abundantly on a moor to the south 

 of Ben-na-chie, flying at sundoAvn. I have at last succeeded in finding C. 

 myelins in sometliing like al)undance ; it is A'ery local, and appears to be an 

 exceedinglj' shy creature, and requires a tremendous amount of Avork to 

 find it. It flies for about ten minutes on A^ery (piiet dark evenings, just 

 as it is groAving dark, and it is exceedingly difticidt to see in the gloom. 

 My brother has been much more successful in finding it than I have. 

 His mode of operation is to search miles of heather and young fir trees. 

 1 haA'e seen him catch thirteen in one day. My OAvn catch neA'er ex- 

 ceeded six. OA'a are easily obtained by half-killing the $ with cyanide 



* We are not at all satisfied that the specimens obtained on Achillea and 

 Senecio are identical. They Avill have to be bred side by side and careful cotm- 

 parison made before the matter can be even approximately settled. — Ed. 



