f}^ [Januarr, 



see the things. N.Jestiva, var. conflua. — This species occurred in great profusion, 

 with an amount of variation that was surprising. 



Triphcena pronuha. — This was very common, and included a wide range of 

 variation ; some of the blue-grey varieties being very pretty ; a number had the 

 hind-wings of a distinctly whitish tint. 



Dianthcecia conspersa. — The larva of this species when young was to be taten 

 everywhere by collecting the flower-heads of campion, and towards the end of 

 August by searching the flowers by the aid of a lanthorn, when the larvse could be 

 discovered with the body sunk in the flower-head, having crawled up the stalk 

 from its burrow in the earth where it spends the day. 



DasifpoLia templi. — The larva of this species was to be found in cow parsnip, &c., 

 in various localities, but as the plant for the most part grew in places awkward to 

 work, our take of it was limited ; the ground colour of the bred specimens is darker 

 than asual. ' 



Aplecta occulta. — One specimen of this occurred near the south end of the 

 Loch of Cliff, it was light, in strong contrast to Rannoch specimens. 



Hadena adusta. — This was fairly common, but worn, early in July in various 

 localities ; varied considerably, some being not unlike the Rannoch form of C. exults, 

 while others were more like H. thalansina in colour and markings. 



Plusia gamma was as usual to be found everywhere. 



Scoparia atomalis occurred all over the moors, but the specimens do not call 

 for any remark. S. angustea. — A few odd specimens were taken. 



Herbula cespitalis.— A. few specimens of this occurred near Balta Sound, which 

 were darker and brighter than the mainland forms. 



Crambus pratellus and paacuellus. — Both species as usual were very common in 

 suitable localities. C. culmel/us simply swarmed everywhere, and might be described 

 as the common insect of Unst. C. hortuelliis was not uncommon. 



Peronea aspersana* was very common on all the moors towards the end of 

 August ; the colouring was much i-icher than usual, especially in the females. 



Sericoris littornna was widely distributed, but by no means common ; odd 

 specimens might be taken by searching the rocks, from which tliey were very easily 

 disturbed, and had to be cauglit at once or the wind carried them off; they varied 

 considerably, some specimens being of a rich ochre colour, passing through various 

 tints of brown to dark purple. iS. lacnnana was common all over the grassy parts of 

 the moors and hill sides. S. Schulziana was not uncommon, the specimens being 

 rather richly coloured. 



Cnephaxia musculana was almost past by the time we arrived in Unst, a number 

 of worn specimens, however, were seen. 



Sciaphila Colquhounana. — This species was fairly abundant where it occurred, 

 and was to be had by searching the crevices of the rocks ; the larvae seem to feed 

 on the lichen which covers the rocks, we found many of the long silken tubes 

 with the pupa-cases sticking out ; the moths varied considerably, some specimens 

 being almost white with dull markings, while others were almost of a unicolorous 

 dark leaden-blue with the markings just discernible. 



Clepsis rusticana was to be obtained at odd times. 



Bactra lanceolana was common in the ordinary localities ; the species does not 

 seem to vary to such an extent as in the south. 



