THE NEW FOREST IN THE RAIN. 171 



some numbers. This species was our particular quarry, but the first 

 night proved we were a week too early. 



We soon had a taste of the weather we were in for, as while putting 

 on treacle in a wood near the village, rain began which continued 

 heavily all the evening. A fair number of moths turned up, but only 

 one T. subaequa — just out. Other species of interest were T. Jimhria, 

 Craniophora litfustri, RhodopJiaea stutrella, in some numbers, Dipteri/nia 

 scabriuscida {/linastri), Xi/lophasia hepatica, Nuctna festioa, in great 

 variety, and many common things. It was too wet for dusking and 

 little was taken except some Xanthorhde rirata, Asthena Inteata, and a 

 larva or two of Cucullia verhasci, off a clump of mulleins. 



Next morning the rain continued steadily up till lunch time, when 

 the sky broke and we had the one really sunny afternoon of our visit 

 "We mounted bicycles to try the Verwood locality for hlDi.ijdia cribnun, 

 which was still plentiful at this date in 1910. On the way we had 

 our minds set at rest as to whether the large fritillaries would be out 

 yet, by netting two beautiful Ar;ii/iiuis ci/dippe (adippe) at a suany 

 corner of the road. To our great disappointment we found the whole 

 of the old cribnaii ground destroyed by fire : we tramped round all the 

 outskirts and neighbouring heather, but found no trace. Can some of 

 the Ringwood collectors tell us whether it has survived in this 

 particular locality ? The only insect on the heath in any numbers 

 was Plebeiuti aet/on, the males of which positively swarmed. 



In the evening we cycled to a high chalk down, which is a far 

 better ground for 7\ snbaequa than the woods, but although moths 

 swarmed on treacle they were still more backward. For example, Xijlu- 

 p/idsia hepatica which was very worn the previous night, was here in lovely 

 condition. Tu.rocampa past i nam also occurs in numbers on this 

 ground, but unfortunately was not yet out, and the evening was 

 therefore a double disappointment. The outstanding moth at treacle 

 after the very common ones was Xiilophasia unblitstris, in lovely 

 co'-idition and one or two on every tree. Mainestra deiitina was very 

 common and variable also, neither of these species being even 

 represented in the wood. But beyond these there was very little of 

 interest except a few Agrotis corticea which always rather surprises me 

 when I come across it away from the coast. One or two FAlopia 

 prosapiaria [fasciaria) and Mesaleiica albicillata were taken on tree- 

 trunks and at dusk, and single specimens each of M)/el<>]dtila cribrnvi 

 and Plati/ptilia ochrodactyla completed the bag — altogether a 

 disappointing day. 



Tuesday, 4th. — More and heavier rain. It continued in such a 

 downpour that it was after tea-time before there was a chance of doing 

 anything, when we cycled off to another wood, where I had beaten 

 Notodouta chamiia larvae on a former occasion. Two hours' beating 

 produced a fair number of t'oli/placa ridens, Ainphidasis sfrataria, 

 Eitpithecia abbreciata, Knnomos antjnlaria, a late L'silura iiionacha, a 

 pupa of h'. erosario, two full grown X. chaonia, a half grown X. trepida 

 and other uncertain Geometer larvae. Among the larvae a large 

 number of Uhodop/taea suavella (imagines) came into the umbrellas, and 

 a nice female PhorodeHina pnstulata which unfortunately was missed. 



On the way back more C. verbasci larvae were found. This being 

 our last night before moving on, we decided to try the wood once more 

 and were rewarded with another tine T. stibseqiia. It. suavella was 



