275 



My first acquaintanco with it dates back to 1870, when Mr. C. 



G. Barrett introduced me to the Eanworth Fens-a red-letter day (or 



rather night) in my entomological diary, so many were the experiences 



crowded into a few hours : first chasing swallow-tails in the afternoon, 



1 involYing experimental acquaintance with the nature of bogs ; then the 



wonderful sight, to a novice, of Nonagria despecta hovering and 



fluttering all over the fen in countless numbers ; and later, Apamea 



fibrosa, Nonagriafulva, Nndaria ^enex, Lithosm griseola, and the var. 



strmnineola, muscerda, and cmnplanula, all in profusion, while numerous 



other species entered into the catch-all combined to impress it on my 



memory, and not least the fact that it was my first trip with Mr. 



Barrett, my " pater entomologicus." 



It was while boxing three or four specimens of N. despecta from 

 the net, that my attention was caught by a Noctna sitting on a reed 

 stem with wings still soft and rather crumpled. Even my ignorance 

 recognised it as a "wainscot," and not one of the common ones, and 

 Mr Barrett at once assured me that it was a specimen of the then 

 unique N. hreviUnea* It was not until some years later that my 

 acquaintance with the insect was renewed, circumstances preventing 

 me from collecting in the fens for the next season or two, but m 1871 

 Mr Barrett took three specimens (I believe) by sugaring, usually a 

 most unprofitable method of work in the fens. Then between 1873 

 and 1877 some numbers were taken by Messrs. Tarn, Bird, Jenkmson, 

 Barrett, and others, chiefly by working the honeydewed leaves of the 

 sallows late at night. In common with most of the fen Noctu^, irevt- 

 linea is powerfully attracted by this natural banquet, and by searching 

 the leaves with a lamp may be readily secured, either by boxing it at 

 . rest, or more easily by netting as it flies ofi. But this method is by 

 no means equally productive in all seasons, the supply of honeydew 

 being sometimes scanty and poor, and it is by means of the attracting 

 lamp that the species is best known to me. In 1878 Mr. Fletcher, 

 during a month's visit to Eanworth, turned it up thus in some plenty 

 and from that season to the last I have never failed to meet with it, 

 in fluctuating, but, on the whole, increasing numbers. ^ Considering 

 its wide range over the Bure fens, at least from Horning Village o 

 St Benefs Abbey, it is surprising that this insect does not seem to 

 have yet extended its quarters up the Ant, though it certainly occurs 

 at the mouth of that river ; probably, however, it may do so ere long 

 though it is noteworthy that a considerable difference exists in the 

 insect fauna of difierent spots^veninthe^am^range^lffens^ 



