NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 157 



Steerha sacraria and Dasycampa rubiginea in THE Isle of Purbeck. 

 — On Saturday afternoon, September 7th, I had a great slice of hick, 

 and took a fine male specimen of Surrlia sacraria in a stubble-field near 

 here. I Avas out partridge shooting with luy brother at the time, and 

 suddenly noticed the moth flit up from under my feet ; it soon settled 

 again, however, and after one unsuccessful attempt I succeeded in 

 securing it in a glass-bottomed box, which was the only available 

 weapon of oftence that I had with me. Repeated efforts to meet with 

 other specimens, both then and on subsequent occasions, proved in vain. 

 The only example hitherto recorded from Dorset was taken by Mr. E. 

 R. Dale, as long ago as August 31st, 1867. Of the Macros, my next 

 bcot capture during the past season was a single female example of 

 Dasi/cainpa ruhl<iinca, taken at ivy bloom, on October 16th ; this was 

 the only reward Avorth mentioning for pretty constant work at ivy and 

 sugar during several weeks. — Eustace R. IBankes, M.A., F.E.S., The 

 Rectory, Corfe Castle. November IQth, 1895. 



Abundance of Oporabia dilutata.— During the last few weeks 

 Oporabia dilutata has been plentiful all round London, a large pro- 

 portion being very dark and unicolorous, Avithout markings. — H. .J. 

 Turner, F.E.S., 13, Drakefield Road, Hatcham, S.E. Nareiiiher 21st, 

 1895. 



XANTmA ockllaris near Richmond, Surrey. — I captured one 

 specimen of this insect near Richmond, on September 15th, and 

 another on September 21st. The tAVO specimens differ in appearance, 

 but the light spot on the reniform and the Avhite Aving-rays shoAv 

 clearly in both. The lighter of the tAVO has no conspicuously dark 

 markings, and is, presumably, of an extreme type, the dark one, I 

 suppose, of the normal. — W. A. Cope, 30, Crescent Road, Bromley, 

 Kent. Nove)iiber 22ml, 1895. 



NoNAGRiA CANNAE ABUNDANT. — A fcAV days In the Norfolk Broad 

 district were the most successful I have experienced this year. 

 Nnnaiiria caniiar Avas abundant in the pupal stage, but [only managed 

 to successfully pull through about 20 per cent, of the pupa3 obtained. 

 The pupaB Avere in some cases droAvned, for the July rains had caused 

 the Avater to rise over the thin place in the Ti/p/ia stem, left for 

 emergence. — E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.E.S., Myddelton House, Waltham 

 Cross. October Itli, 1895. 



Abundance of Asteroscopus sphinx at light. — Asteroscopm sji/iinx 

 put in an appearance in the trap for the first time on November 6th, 

 being about a fortnight later than usual, OAving, I suppose, to the cold 

 spell at the end of October, but noAV it is making up for lost time, and 

 yesterday morning I found 51 males in my traps, the bulk in good 

 condition. On the 8th inst., I got oneAvith the right antenna, female, 

 and the left, male. I cannot say Avhether the difference in sex ex- 

 tends any further, there being, so far as I knoAV, no other out- 

 Avard distinction, though the female is usually larger. The speci- 

 men is of medium size, and one of the yc^lloAver or cream-coloured 

 aberrations. — E. F. Studd, M.A., B.C.L., F,E.S., Oxton. November 

 15tJi, 1895. 



Sugaring in Shetland. — As far as my own collecting experience 

 is concerned, I found sugaring to be very unequal Avhilst I Avas in 

 Shetland. On some nights the posts were almost coA^ered Avith 

 Noctuids, Avhilst on other evenings, apparently as favourable, scarcely 



