ENTOMOLOGY AT RAINHAM, ESSEX. 287 



teristic of the latter species ; one or two speeimeusof Caradrina cnbicnlaris, 

 wliieb seem to he uiueh darker than usual, a form which aiipears to have 

 been rather common with me this year ; lastly, a row of N. xanthographa, 

 some red, and three very curious silvery-grey specimens which I take 

 to be unusual. 



Having gone through my exhibits, which I hope will at least interest 

 some of the less experienced of your members, I may, perhaps, unless I 

 have already taken up too much of your time, mention a few more species 

 which I either have or have not taken at Kainham. First of all, the genus 

 Cernra (i- inula and her sisters), seems to Ije entirely absent, althougli 

 poplars, willows and sallows, as is natural in such a marshy place, abound. 

 Goiu'ptf'ri/.c rhaiiiu/' 1 have not caught sight of in three years, althougli a 

 single Triphosd dnhitatd told me that there must be buckthorn within 

 reach. DaKychira pndihunda must be very rare ; a single larva found 

 last week, alone proving its occurrence. None of the " sharks," except 

 C. umhratica, occur. 



I have taken single specimens of the following species, and cannot 

 account for their presence, unless it be that, as travellers, they were, 

 perhaps, trying to tind out what sort of a place Kainham was, and if it 

 be so, they have every reason to be dissatisfied : — 



Dlcycla oo, a species dear to me, of which I have had 80 specimens 

 on the boards at once. There is scarcely an oak near. Orthosui 

 smpecta : there is but one birch tree for miles. I suppose that, although 

 the books say of the larva "' food-plant unknown," most of you know 

 that it Avill feed up on birch. These two species are those to 

 which I referred as being remarkable, inasmuch as they were the only 

 cajitures worth noting taken in a i"eed-bed. 



Two Xanthia gdrngo, one last year, and one this. I am not so much 

 surprised at taking this insect, as at not having taken more, for elms are 

 common enough. Phibalapteri/x vitalbata (at sugar) ; there is no cle- 

 matis within three miles. Drepana falcataria. Remember the absence 

 of birch. Erastria fasciana : taken flying, at 8 a.m. in my garden ; of 

 interest to me, because Newman says this species is common in the bogs 

 of Killarney. I have only seen it in woods. A Geometra papUionaria 

 must also have felt disappointed to have found no birch. 



Larv^ of Acherontia atropos are fairly common. Last year I had 

 five and reared three. This year I have had eight, none of which have 

 produced moths so far. 



Apamea ophioijratnma is an insect which everybody seems to want. 

 It was very rare at Brentwood, where I lived for six or seven years 

 previous to settling in Kainham. I had no sooner got into the latter 

 place, than I began to look aliout for means of enticing it into my gar- 

 den. The striped riljbon-grass is a well recognised lure, and of this I 

 found that I possessed one stunted specimen, growing in a stony 

 path. I divided this, and, as is its habit, it increased and multiplied. 

 The first summer, I got no A. ophioyramma; in 1893, I secured seven, 

 and this year, twelve, between July 6th and August 15th. I liave now 

 large quantities of the food-jilant growing, and hope next year to succeed 

 in rearing some in captivity. 



But what a difference there is between catching A. ophiogramvin, and 

 possessing specimens good enough for one's cabinet, if one is particular. 

 How often what one thought good at first sight, fails to satisfy after it 

 is set out. I am inclined to think that this, with some other species — 



