r 



NOTES ON OOLLKCTING, ETC, 2C9 



popularis, knocked down by Mr, Abbott, whilst sugaring. The regular 

 autumn species have hitherto but rarely put in an appearance before 

 the early frosts have di-iven their would-be captor into metropolitan 

 hibernation, but this year I liave been pleased to meet with even such 

 common species as Xanthia ferrugiiiea, Scopelosoma satcUitia, Anchoreh's 

 litura, A. lunosa, etc. The features of the season have been, firstl3% tlie 

 capture of two dozen specimens of the rare and little-known (Jdrddrhid 

 ambigua ; next, the comparative abundance (and lateness) of Triphnena 

 subseqna, of which over two dozen specimens fell to the lot of Mr. 

 Abbott, myself, and friends, but which were, unfortunately, mostly 

 very worn ; farther, the comparative abundance of two good local species, 

 viz. Agrotis obelisca and Apornphyla amtralis ; and lastly, the agreeable 

 diversification of the usual monotony by the occasional appearance of 

 such rarities as Lapliygma exigna (2), Leucania alhipuncta (6), Heliothis 

 armiger and H. peltiger. I must hei'e express my indebtedness to the 

 Rev. C. E. X. Burrows for his valuable hint as to the use of methylated 

 spirit instead of rum, my experience going to prove that it is a most 

 effective as well as cheap substitute. It has during the month past met 

 with a A'-ery fair trial, as it has competed over and over again with rum 

 on level terms, and proved its equal if not superior merits, evidently a 

 proof that the Noctuid palate is not a refined one. The weather has 

 been most unsettled, and, from the farmers' and visitors' point of view, 

 most unsatisfactory, but in so far as the absence of the usually early 

 frosty nights goes, the entomologist has much cause for gratitude. 

 Light has not been worked owing to the proximity to the sea, or the 

 captures would have been largely increased, but A. lunosa has been 

 unusually plentiful at sugar, but as is usually the case with the males, 

 in very poor condition ; a few females have on the contrary proved 

 exceptionally fine. Agrotk puta has not been the feature that it was 

 last year but it has been amply revenged by Noctua c-nigrum and 

 Phlogophora meticulosa, which have been in great numbers on some 

 nights, whilst N. xantliograpjha has been but in normal quantity. 

 Among the occasionally common things, Agrotis sancia has occurred but 

 very sparingly and seems unusually late in its appearance, whilst 

 Leucania viteUlna, evidently exhausted by its efforts in 1893, has been a 

 much-mourned absentee. —In Diurni very little has been done, as 

 '•setting" has proved amjjle occupation for the shortening daylight 

 hours, but when sunshine has tempted an expedition Culias edma has 

 been found in twos and threes in its old haunts, from the middle of 

 August to the end of September, and Vanessa atalanta appeared very 

 freely towards the latter date. Pi/rameis cardui has proved most 

 disappointing, the anticipations of plenty indulged in on the strength 

 of reports of numerous larvae and of the early appearance of tine 

 imagines, Ijeing doomed to partial disapponitment. Plusia gamma, at 

 the last only, appeared suddenly in numbers and imparted extra 

 vivacity to the sugared patches at night and to the Downs by day, 

 whilst in Geometers AspUates citraria was early and soon over, although 

 plentiful for a few days. In larva3, nothing was attempted worth}- of 

 mention but Agrotis ripae again proved scarce in its very limited 

 quarters, although not so much so as in 189::!, two visits producing 

 about 50 and 1 -") respectively ; possibly the second (upon Sept. 27th) 

 was too late. Wasps have been extremely scarce, but myriads of tiny 

 flies of two species have on several occasions absolutely crowded the 

 " sugar," making one wish for the society of an enthusiastic Dipterist. 



