20 [January, 



between. Isolated trees, when met with, are stunted, and often 

 strangely formed, presenting the weird appearance of having been 

 blown so out of shape as to grow horizontally rather than vertically. 

 This distortion, by the way, is not so much due to the bending action 

 of the wind, as to a species of pruning ; the buds growing to windward 

 are killed, while those on the leeward side are able to develop in 

 comparative security. Then again, the old stone walls, built of the 

 native slates and earth, locally called " dry-ditches,"* though grown 

 over with gorse and brambles, with an occasional thorn bush, or more 

 often a sallow, do not afford anything like the harbour for insects 

 that the glorious hedgerows of some of the south-eastern counties do. 

 Thirdly — and this is by far the most important fact — the entomologist 

 will be struck with the " tine air " for which Morte is justly celebrated. 

 The temple of iEolus might well be erected on Challacombe Hill, or 

 even where the ancient Parish Church stands. It is rarely that there 

 is not a strong breeze blowing, while gales soon cease to cause 

 astonishment. This is why trees are so scarce. There are indeed but 

 few days when the more feeble flyers can get about in comfort, and 

 even the strongest soon get battered and torn. Hence it is most 

 difficult to dislodge insects, and even more difficult to catch them 

 when disturbed. 



In association with these peculiar conditions it is interesting to 

 take a general view of the insect fauna. Butterflies are extremely 

 numerous as regards individuals, and a fair number of species are met 

 with. " Sugar" reveals many JVoctuce, a few of great interest, but a 

 very large proportion of those visiting it is made up of Agrotis 

 ocanthograplia or Hadena meticulosa. The absence of trees may at 

 first puzzle the collector accustomed to sugaring in woods, but he will 

 soon learn that Morte moths prefer to sip their sugar from furze 

 bushes or tall flowers, even when trees are available. On the other 

 hand, the Geometrce are but poorly represented, while the scarcity of 

 Tortrices, both as regards species and specimens, is most marked. 



This does not pretend to be, even approximately, a complete list. 

 To begin with, though always noting such insects as have come across 

 my path, it is many years since I have myself collected, and the list is 

 consequently for the most part made up from observations when 

 accompanying entomological friends in their rambles in the district ; 

 the work is therefore really due to these friends — The Rev. C. J. 

 Buckmaster, Mr. D. A. Onslow, Mr. A. L. Onslow, Mr. F. R. D. 



* A ditch, properly speaking, consists of that dug out (agger), and the place out of which it 

 is dug [vallum). In most parts of the country the word is confined to the latter. 



