228 LSepteinbcr, 



air, moths came in thousands, the sugar patches being literally 

 covered with sometimes two hundred on a patch, fighting for places. 

 Nor were the visitors confined to the Noctuce, some of the Oeometrcd 

 being as eager for the sweets as the most ardent " thick body." 

 Tephrosia eoctersaria was indeed one of the most abundant visitors, 

 occurring on the first " round " on almost every tree in numbers from 

 three or four up to twenty or more. On our last " round " for the 

 evening Boarmia consortaria was tolerably common, and Eurymene 

 dolohraria was a not uufrequent visitor. Other visitors in the family 

 included Odontopera hidentata, Ephyra porata^ E. trilinearia, E. punc- 

 taria, E. peiidularia, C. russata, &c. The Bomhyces were represented 

 by two Lithosia aureola ; and Chcerocampa Elpenor and Halias pra- 

 sinana were not unfrequent visitors to sugared posts just outside the 

 wood. The most abundant Noctua, as might be expected, was Gram- 

 mesia trilinea, and every conceivable form in both ochreous and grey 

 specimens occurred, whilst the dark olive var. hilinea might have been 

 picked oft' in scores. Aplecta herhida was in great force, and could 

 have been taken in hundreds in exquisite condition. Nearly all the 

 Noctuce, indeed, were in perfect condition, and we had evidently just 

 hit the right time for them. Aplecta nehulosa was also very common, 

 but not nearly so abundant as herhida, and a few only of Aplecta 

 tincta were taken. Of " better " species we each took a few Cymaio- 

 phora Jluctuosa, and C. or was common ; so also were Xylophasia 

 hepatica, Thyatira batis, Apamea unanimis, and many others ; Aero- 

 nycta ligustri was fairly so, and probably towards a score of Diphthera 

 Orion and a few Hadena genistcB were taken. Erastria fuscuJa was 

 abundant. Other Noctuce, many of them occurring in large numbers, 

 included Thyatira derasa, Acronycta psi or tridens (probably both), 

 A. leporina, A. aceris, A. megacephala, Xylophasia rurea, including 

 grand forms of the var. comhusta, 3£amestra anceps, M. persicarice, 

 Apamea basilinea, and A. gemina, fine forms of both ; Agrofis sujfasa, 

 and several others of the genus ; Noclua pled a, hrunnea, c-nigrum, 

 festiva, rubi, &c. ; Euplexia lucipara, beautiful purple forms ; good 

 varieties of Hadena dentina and H. thalassina, Ileliothis marginata, 

 Gonoptera libatrix, &c., &c. 



Day work was also most enjoyable and satisfactory. Colias Edusa 

 was not uncommon, both in the Abbott's Wood district, and also at 

 Eastbourne (where we had one day's collecting) ; and Vanessa cardui 

 was abundant. MelitcBa Athalia was tolerably common and widely 

 distributed in the woods, but 31. Artemis was rare. Argynnis Eiiphro- 

 syne and A. Selene were in profusion, as usual. Lycana Adonis 



