1882.] 209 



Notes on Lepidoptera in Roxburghshire in 1881.— I have made a few notes on 

 some species of Lepidoptera which I have taken, and larvse I have reared to pupa?, 

 this summer, which may be of some interest to record. During the months of June 

 and July there were extraordinary numbers of the common Noctua*, the sugared 

 trees on some nights being perfectly covered with them ; the species in greatest 

 force being Apamea basilinea, Xylophasia rurea, Hadena thalassina and adusta, 

 Noctua c-nigrum, and many others. The autumn, however, owing to continued cold 

 and wet, has been very unproductive, and many species commonly seen have been 

 meagrely represented, and of others I have scarcely seen a specimen. I may mention 

 that any of the species I have to note of which I had any doubt as to identity have 

 been seen (including all four specimens of Triphcena subsequa) and confirmed by 

 Mr. C. G. Barrett, and so may be relied upon. I have seen little of the group of 

 Sphingina, and can only note two species, viz. : a fine, newly-emerged specimen of 

 the common Smerinthus populi, found clinging to a flower-stem in June ; and, on 

 August 24th, a friend sent to me a fine, large, live specimen of Sphinx convolvuli, 

 which he found clinging to the outside sash of a window — it is a very large specimen, 

 measuring five inches across the wings, when set out in the usual English fashion. 

 The larva of Smerinthus populi is very common on every species of Salix and 

 Populus in this district, and I have reared a rather large number successfully. Of 

 the Notodontidce I have succeeded with the following, viz. : Cerurafurcula, which 

 seems scarce ; Notodonta ziczac and dromedarius are both moderately common 

 (I have twenty-eight pupae of the latter, and about as many of the former) and 

 generally distributed. I may mention that I found one larva of dromedarius on 

 alder almost saffron-yellow in colour, and it remains to be seen whether or not the 

 imago will show any variation from the usual type. Leiocampa dictcea is pretty 

 common on poplar, but dictceoides is a scarce species ; I got a few of the larvae on 

 birch, all of which pupated successfully ; in colour they were of a uniform, purple, 

 shining brown, the raised lateral yellow lines being broad and very conspicuous. 

 Lophopteryx camelina is plentiful on sallow, oak, and birch, the two former apparently 

 being preferred. I also took larvae of Clostera reclusa, which seems very scarce. I 

 got a number of the larvse of Bombyx quercus, var. callunce on heath, and was suc- 

 cessful with them, having fourteen cocoons from eighteen larvse. In the imago state, 

 I took Cilix spinula, in fine condition, in July. Of Noctuce, Thyatira batis, not 

 seen previously here, and a number of fine specimens of Acronycta ligustri. 

 Leucania lithargyria and comma were both moderately common, and Nonagria 

 fulva plentiful, in September. Of the genus Triphaina, I took four specimens of 

 subsequa in July, also a fine specimen of fimbria in August, and another in Septem- 

 ber. Noctua augur, although not considered a scarce species, appears to be so here, 

 as I only took one good specimen. Noctua c-nigrum was plentiful throughout June 

 and July ; triangulum is scarce, and I secured two good specimens only, and one or 

 two others in worn condition ; brunnea and rubi are both common. Of the Tcenio- 

 campce I took two specimens of gracilis, on sallow bloom, in the beginning of May, 

 and several good specimens of Aplecta herbida, from sugared trees, in June and 

 July, and in the former month a fine specimen of Hadena rectilinea. Anarta myr- 

 tilli was unusually plentiful. I took of the Plusiidce only one notable species, viz. : 

 Plusia festuca, on July 13th, which seems very early for its appearance. Of Geo- 



