298 THE entosiologist's recokl*. 



flowers of ragwort, Miana hicoloria was one of the few Noctuids which 

 was common this season. " Sugar" was useless. Night after night 

 there was nothing to box ; even Triphaena pronuba, Xylophasia 

 monoghipha and Apamea duly ma were rare. Dusking for Geometrids 

 also gave poor results ; Eiiholia {Ortholitha) limitata and Hypsipetes 

 sordidata were the only species which occurred at all freely. Eustroma 

 pyraliata, Acidalui fumata, A. arersata and Ellopia prompnaria were 

 represented by a specimen or two each, while Uropteryx sambiuaria 

 was more frequently seen than captured. Lithusia mesomella, as usual, 

 swarmed in its favourite damp haunts. It is the only " footman " I get 

 here. A slight improvement was noticeable in August, particularly in 

 the Geometrids ; Cidaria imnianata, Eustroma fulvata, Acidalia 

 bm'tata, Larentia didymata and MelantJiia bicolorata abounded. A few 

 fine Coremia unidentaria were also taken, and one very worn Eustroma 

 pnmata was netted. This is only the second specimen I have met 

 with. In woods, the beating stick dislodged Eustroma testata in plenty. 

 At light, Luperina testacea and Noctna.rantJwi/rapha were the 'preYailing 

 species, and occasionally Hi/droecia micacea turned up. Polia chi was in 

 tolerable plenty on walls, but I did not observe any aberrations. It is 

 a very constant species round Carlisle. " Sugar " was no more 

 attractive than in July, a single Triphaena fimbria being the only 

 thing worth mentioning. There are few butterflies here after July.^ 

 Pararye meyaera was common in lanes, and a few Pyrameis cardiii 

 were observed. With September, " sugar " began to pay, and up to 

 the time of writing is yielding some useful Noctuids. Hadena protea 

 and Anchocelis litura have been common, especially so on two frosty 

 moonlight nights. On dull, close evenings, there were not nearly so 

 many, which is the reverse of usual experience. Other species I am 

 now taking are : Anchocelis helrola {rujina), A. lunosa, Noctua ylareosa, 

 N. castanea (worn), Miselia o.ryacanthae, Citria (Xanthia) fiarayoy 

 C. fulrayo, Epunda nigra, Amphipyra trayopoyonis, Gonoptera libatrix, 

 and one or two others. None of these are common, but still the result 

 of an evening's treacling, at the present time, is much better than 

 during any other part of the season, Tapinostola fulva is now flitting 

 about in damp meadows after sunset ; Phisia yamma is more in 

 evidence than I have noticed it for some years. It was a new 

 experience for me to see four specimens of this species at " sugar." I 

 have never seen a Plusia attracted by sweets before. Larvse have been 

 very abundant lately. On the osiers, which fringe our small streams, 

 iSmerinthus ocellatus, S.populi, and Cerzira rinula have been taken freely. 

 A few Notodonta ziczac and Gonoptera libatrix occurred on osier and 

 sallow, and I met with Centra furcula for the first time. Wherever 

 the white campion grew, larvae of THanthoecia capsincola swarmed in 

 the seed-pods. In one district almost every oak tree harboured a brood 

 or two of Phalera bucephala. Larvre of Pyrameis atalanta were more 

 numerous than they have been for some years. In gardens, Hadena 

 oleracea and Mamestra brassicae are now swarming, while Spilosoma 

 menthastri and S. lubricepeda are revelling on the leaves of rhubarb* 

 Wherever I go these last two larvae are to be seen, scurrying over road 

 and pavement, in quest of suitable places for pupation. My non- 

 entomological friends bring them to me daily as something novel. 

 From flowers of foxglove I took a few Eupithecia pulchellaia, but all 

 were ichneumoned. — F. H. Day, 6, Currock Terrace, Carlisle. Sep- 

 tember 15th, 1897. 



