112 [October, 



A few Larentia ccesiata were also to be found on tlie hills, but generally on the 

 high rocks, and quite conspicuous. 



I searched long and almost fruitlessly for Cloantha solidaginis, but at last found 

 two specimens on rocks. They approached more closely to the appearance of the 

 dark stone, and, therefore, I suppose elevated themselves on their fore-legs into as 

 prominent and striking a position as possible. — Chas. Gt. Barrett, September, 1885. 



Curious performance of a Noctua. — While on the Pennines, I noticed a very 

 curious freak on the part of Celoena Haworthii. According to the usual restless 

 habit of the species, individuals were to be seen from time to time in the afternoon 

 buzzing about the heath bloom, dashing hastily away when disturbed, and suddenly 

 disappearing — which disappearance, by the way, was effected by settling on a tuft of 

 EriopJiorum vaginatiim, and running down underneath it to near the ground — and, 

 as sunset approached these restless specimens, all males, became more numerous, 

 until just before dusk they were to be seen darting in every direction over the moors 

 with headlong speed. But one evening during their period of greatest activity, I 

 noticed two or three specimens to be exceedingly interested in some large tufts 

 of Eriojihorum, so that they were easily caught. Before these were boxed, more 

 came, and so on until I had secured as many as I cared for, and set myself to find 

 the — supposed — concealed female. But the mythical female could not be found ! 

 The tufts were searched first carefully, then thoroughly, meanwhile the males were 

 still coming, running about the bare peaty soil between the tufts, running over my 

 hands even, but though I pulled the tufts to pieces, and dug up the surface of the 

 soil, no female could be found, nor could tbe males be deterred from their investi- 

 gation of tlie ground. Darkness came on so rapidly, that I was compelled to leave 

 them thus occupied, lest I should lose my own way hi the increasing gloom. Next 

 time 1 visited the spot at the same hour no interest whatever was taken in it by tlie 

 moths. Females I found sitting on the top of heath twigs and other conspicuous 

 places, and can only suppose that the males must have been attracted by pupae very 

 near to emergence, which in the twilight I was not able to find. — Id. 



Food of Peronea caledoniana, Steph. — This species was extremely abundant 

 on the Pennine Hills during my visit — worn on the lower slopes, but in fine con- 

 dition towards the summits — and always among Vaccinium myrtillus, which, more- 

 over, showed abundant traces of the action of the larva. It seems a pity that a 

 larva so plentiful as this must be in July should not be obtained and carefully de- 

 scribed. The moth is considered by Wocke as merely a variety oi ferrugana — a 

 view which is, I think, quite untenable. 



Orapholitha geminana was also flying about its food-plant, and, I think, that 

 this same plant is the principal food of the curious small forms of Larentia didy- 

 mata and Hypsipites elutata so common here. — Id. 



On the clothing of the pup ce in the genus Hyponomeuta. — Long ago Mr. Henry 

 Doubleday called my attention to the fact that the denseness of the pupal shroud 

 varied in different species of this genus ; but lately I heard from Heer P. C. T. 



