210 THE entomologist's record. 



it was a great pleasure that I arrived again at Freshwater, June 7th, in 

 company Avith my brother, and Mr. Abbott of Birmingham, to Ijegin 

 collecting seriousty, and we soon found congenial employment, that was 

 indeed welcome after our monotonous failure of the previous Aveek, 

 Avhich we, endeavouring to keep our spirits up by ill-timed merriment, 

 were wont to comj^are to xasits to a succession of cemeteries, full of 

 memorials of sj^ecies, either long departed, or temi^orarily absent. We 

 had been so accustomed to be treated as tourists, whose only ambition 

 was to see such spots as Avhere the very last Lcdia ccenosa had been 

 taken — varied by the exact location where EydriUa jidlusiris might be 

 expected, and as a special refresher, the chosen haunts (in any season 

 but this), of such good local species as Agrojyhila sidphi rah's and 

 Litliostege griseata, conspicuous only by their complete absence, that it 

 was with renewed vigour that we repaired to grounds which, although 

 small, might be "relied upon to provide a respectable " bag." To save 

 time, we came straight through London and on at once to our destina- 

 tion, where we arrived about 4.30 p.m., eager to retrieve our reputation. 

 Thinking of the early season, our first visit was made the same evening 

 to " the swamp " for Acklalia emntaria, which we found at once, flying 

 more freely that usual, and of which we secured over sixtj', unfortu- 

 nately, not even then freshly emerged, although quite a fortnight before 

 my usual first visit. Sugar proved disappointing in the adjacent wood, 

 owing, doubtless, to the universal abundance of hone^'dew ; and this 

 has continued up till the date of Avriting (July -ith), when I am hoping 

 that a very heavy thunderstorm, now passing, may be the precursor of 

 more success. The lamp and sheet were put to work, but without much 

 result ; a fine <? Geometra papilionaria, and one Notodonta dromedarins, 

 being the most noteworthy visitors, during the few evenings that we 

 tried them. Toxocampa pastinum was the next insect specially worked 

 for, and, this also, proved itself to be in unusual abundance, although 

 extremely local. Several evenings in succession we obtained a large 

 number of specimens in the very finest condition, and over a remarkably 

 small area of ground. Their flight commenced about 9 j^.m., and con- 

 tinued on one warm evening till past midnight, but usually ceased 

 about 10.30 at the latest. In the later flight, they came freely to our 

 hand-lamps, and also to our Fen lamp, when lowered to the ground ; 

 but this method of collecting we had to abandon, owing to the fierce 

 attacks of the swarms of giiats, which were in absolute clouds round the 

 light. We also took at the light an occasional Cleora lichenaria, and 

 FAlopia fasciaria, with the usual abundance of lodis lactearia, and other 

 common things. During the remainder of June, we made but occasional 

 visits to this localitj^, devoting more time to the Downs ; but I took 

 a few Phorodesma hajidaria, Angerona prunaria, etc. Amongst the 

 plumes Agdistis bennettii was netted, but did not occur in its usual pro- 

 fusion, possibly not being fully out. An occasional Clum-ocampa 

 elpenor was also netted, but positively nothing at sugar there. We 

 continued trying the Downs, where Agrotis corticea came freely to sugar, 

 and were quite surprised to note the first occurrence of A. lunigera on 

 June 9th, A. hicernea following next night. These three species 

 continued to maintain their character, as confirmed visitors to the 

 artificial sweets, during the next ten days, with the result of a good 

 long series of each, but since about the 24th they have got very much 

 more scarce, and last night, (July 3rd), I only saw one of the last- 



