30 [February, 



were very variable, as is generally the case, some ^-^ears being absolutely 

 hopeless with hardly a redeeming feature, whilst certain seasons stand 

 out in red letters. 1897 and 1899 were good; 1900 positively golden ; 

 and 1906 much above the average. We Avere firm believers in stead- 

 fastly adhering to one spot and continually working it rather than 

 wandering about, if at any time unsuccessful, from place to place, in the 

 hopes of better fortune. When sugaring in our wood, we invariably 

 occupied the same ride, making a complete circle through the sur- 

 rounding orchards. By the sea we selected om* run of posts supporting 

 a whe fence close to the edge of the cliffs, with a hill sloping away land- 

 wards, covered with scrub and affording much shelter to our " sugars " 

 when the wind came from that quarter. The surrounding country was 

 mostly rough grassland, open common, and limestone quarries, and we 

 found this spot so satisfactory that we ultimately forsook the wood and 

 for quite twenty years running regularly sugared here throughout the 

 summer and autumn. It is out of the question to enumerate all 

 the species that have fi'om time to time visited our sweets. I have 

 referred, later on, to a few of the better and more particularly South 

 Devon moths in some short notes upon them individually. In addition 

 to these, I may mention the following : — Agrotls ohelisca, A. lunigera, 

 A. saucia and A. sujf'usa (some years in extraordinary abundance), 

 A. puta, A. pot'pliyrea, Epunda nigra (generally very common), 

 E. lutulenta, E. liclieiiea, Thi/atira hatis. Goiiopliora derasa, Cosmia 

 affinis, C. diffiais, Caradrina ahines, C. hianda, PoUa Jlacicincia (very 

 fine dark form), Hudena genlstae, Apcunea fibrosa, Calocampa vetuslu, 

 Noctua neglecta, N. glareosa (a pretty pink form), Aporophyla aus- 

 tralis, Plusiafestucae, A2)lecta occulta. 



I think that the month of September, 1900, was the best and most 

 successful period we ever had at sugar, and some remarkably fine " bags " 

 rewarded our efforts. The weather was perfect and insects swarmed, 

 including species of some rarity. 



In Devon and Cornwall, as, no doubt, in other counties, the railway 

 is frequently a blessing in disguise for the collector. The steep banks 

 of the cuttings are often a mass of varied vegetation, including many 

 vmcommon and local plants ; they are generally more or less protected 

 from the vagaries of the weather and afford a fine harbour to countless 

 insects — not only Lepidopterous. If passing through suitable country, 

 both inland and by the sea. the wooden posts supporting stout Avire- 

 fencing, as used by the Great Western, make ideal vehicles for sugai- 

 and I have found splendid sport in such situations again and again. 



