(5 [J,«imiarT. 



Scapa Bay iu the afternoon yielded the few following insects : 

 Lyccena Icarus, of which the only two males that I took have the 

 under-sides much darker than usual, one of thera in fact quite brown 

 and closely resembling an ordinary female, the central spot is large, 

 and ringed with white, and the usual spot nearer the base very in- 

 distinct. I did not note the fact till I left so am unable to say 

 whether most of the Orkney specimens exhibit the same peculiarity. 

 In a fine bed of Elymus arenarius, Linn., my son took a single specimen 

 of CJiarceas graminis at rest, and in the long grass of the low cliffs we 

 found Larentia didymata, L. ccesiata, Coremia munitata, pretty forms of 

 Camptoqramma hilineata, also Scapula lutealis and Cramhus pratelJus. 



The next morning our boat for Lerwick started at the uncomfort- 

 able hour of 3 a.m., and after a somewhat rough passage, especially 

 off the Fair Island, we reached our destination at 1.30 p.m. The 

 afternoon was occupied in inspecting the quaint, narrow, pathless 

 streets, which are paved with rough stones, in visiting friends, and an 

 early table d'hote dinner. The evening was clear and cold, and strolling 

 down to Loch Clickhimin to see the well-known ruins of the fine 

 Pictish tower, which stand at its southern end, we observed a great 

 number of terns flying over the water. A small boy near volun- 

 teered the information that they were nesting in large numbers on an 

 islet in the loch. To this spot he then rowed us, the general commotion 

 and screams of the terns becoming more and more intense as the boat 

 approached. The sight on landing on this stony weed-grown island 

 was most interesting. The nests were everywhere, and their contents 

 in all stages of development, from the new-laid egg to the full-fledged 

 young bird. Care had to be exercised to avoid treading unintentionally 

 into the nests. We returned at dusk, about 10.30 p.m., without having 

 observed a single Lepidopteron. 



The boat arrangements to the Northern Islands precluded one 

 staying longer in Lerwick, and at 9.30 the following morning we 

 started on the final stage of our journey. The dismal rainy weather 

 experienced in the north of Scotland and the Orkneys, now gave way 

 to ceaseless sunshine, and, for the most part, cold, clear nights, till 

 the end of our visit. A more enjoyable trip on the water could 

 scarcely be imagined than that from Lerwick to Balta Sound on a 

 fine summer's day. The grand coast scenery on the one side, and 

 boundless ocean on the other, the frequent change of direction as 

 island after island is visited, and passengers and cargo discharged or 

 taken on board in the successive voes entered, the cheerful Norsemen 

 with their long flaxen hair bringing their barge-like boats alongside, 



