182 I January, 



is said to be common in some seasonfi, in the larva and pupa states, and 

 the larva of convolindi is sometimes found, indeed a specimen, in tlie 

 last stage of starvation, was brought me in the autumn. It was 

 recognizable and that was all. 



Of " clear-wings " I have seen but one species — ichneumoniformis. 

 It was swept up by accident, one day in July, when working for 

 Tortrices, and proved to be tolerably common among Lotus cornicuJatus. 

 It is a curious fact, that it seems almost impossible to see a specimen 

 at rest on or among its food-plant. I fancy they must sit under the 

 leaves or flowers, like Nemotois scahiosellus. At any rate, the only 

 way to get them was to " sweep," and this was useless until after 

 6 p.m. During the forenoon or afternoon sunshine it was impossible 

 to find a specimen on ground from which a dozen might be swept up 

 at seven o'clock in the evening. Its flight even appears to be almost 

 crepuscular, for the only specimen that I saw on the wing was flying 

 rapidly over a high bank at half -past seven in the evening, and looked, 

 in flight, like a large Tortrix. I shall not soon forget my surprise at 

 finding what species I had captured in this manner. I have a notion 

 that SesicB fly at an inconveniently early hour in the morning, but this 

 crepuscular habit is new to me. 



Bomhyces also are nearly absent, but a few Kola cristulalis 

 occurred on tree trunks in May ; when also I found a solitary ,^ 

 Diaphora mendica, and Lithosia complana and ffriseola, also singly, in 

 July. Here again poverty of species is redeemed in some measure 

 by variation, for a pupa of Odonestis potatoria produced a most beau- 

 tiful chocolate coloured (J, nearly as dark as O. quercifolia. 



GeometrcB are very far from numerous or valuable, but curiously 

 enough several of the best species have appeared principally in the 

 garden and little shrubbery at the back of the house. In May, and 

 again in August, Lohophora viretata may often be found, more or less 

 faded and worn, at I'est on the trunks of a couple of sycamore trees iu 

 a sheltered corner, but really fine specimens are scarce enough, for the 

 damp affects their colour in the day. Here also Eupithecia virgaureata, 

 dodonceata, and coronata have occurred ; Acidalia jjromutata sits on the 

 lime-stone rocks in the (juarries, as also does the chalk-loving Euholia 

 hipunctaria in plenty, and Acidalia suhsericeata, Aspilates citraria, and 

 Eupithecia ahsyntltiata are found sparingly among the herbage in the 

 same localities ; Jlelanippe galiata is common on the outer coast, and 

 Emmelesia affinitata not scarce in the lanes. Still, the general absence 

 of species is remarkable ; for instance, on Juno 19th, I walked eight 

 or ten miles through a hilly, well wooded district, with good hedges 



