CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 73 



falcataria, D. lacertinaria, Gabera pusaria, and a few small Aviphi- 

 dasys hetularia comprised the first morning's bag. The following 

 day added seven N. dictceoides and nine G. jMpiliojiaria, together 

 with the other commoner species. Solitary trees proved best for 

 iV". dictaoides, althougli an outstanding lower branch of the larger 

 birches (growing often in groups) occasionally held them. G. papilio- 

 naria at this date were very small and difficult to see on the tray. 

 Several young larvae of N. camelina were puzzling, inasmuch as the 

 usual plain green dorsal surface was studded with small shining 

 black tubercles, and the head was figured with two conspicuous eye- 

 like marks. Three of these larvae were kept separate from the rest, 

 and produced later the pink form of the adult larva. Throughout 

 August and September we beat the birches, with the result that a 

 goodly quantity of larvae were taken. Notodonta dictaoidcs and 

 Geometra papilionaria were neither of them uncommon ; Notodonta 

 dromedarius and Lo])}iopteryx camelina were abundant, but more 

 than half of them "stung." Drepana lacertinaria was this year 

 more plentiful than D. falcataria, though the converse is usually the 

 case. Gabera pusaria was everywhere, showing four or five distinct 

 forms. Gidaria corylata we added in late September, one of the 

 larvae being a pretty coral pink, bright on the ventral surface, some- 

 what paler on the back. Some of the Geometra papilionaria on 

 September 18th were surprisingly big, and showed quite a lot of 

 green on the sides. If not sleeved outside for the winter, they 

 require to be fed as long as a vestige of green remains on the trees, 

 and when leaves fail, they eat the bircli-catkins readily. By now, 

 November 18th, my larvae have fixed themselves firmly to the twigs, 

 appear to have shrunk considerably, and have assumed the duller 

 brown tint of the birch bark. 



Two enthusiastic entomological friends, Messrs. A. Graveson and 

 T. Smith, sugared persistently throughout August in the hope of 

 arousing again Aplccta occulta, examples of which they had been 

 fortunate enough to take last season. But "sugar" during August 

 was this year disappointing, and a solitary Orthosia suspecta was the 

 only capture wort^i noting. On heather-bloom, however, they secured 

 a nice series of Noctua glareosa. One night they reported seeing 

 quite a number of toads sitting boldly on the heather-tops, obviously 

 waiting for the supper which the winged visitors should provide — no 

 wonder some species are becoming scarcer ! Four imagines of Ennomos 

 alniaria were bred on August 23rd from larvae beaten from birch on 

 the moss in May. About this date, Neuronia popularis and Gharaas 

 graminis were connnon on the street-lamps. The weather of the 

 latter half of August was impossible, and outdoor work came to a 

 standstill. September opened fine and the prospect improved. Polia 

 chi was again abundant. The lighter forms are well protected on 

 our local limestone, but on the blue-stone walls of the Windermere 

 district they are conspicuous and unmistakable. I have never taken 

 the var. olivacea here. On September 3rd a number of larvae of 

 Spilosoma fuliginosa were discovered on the roadsides, and they are 

 now in hybernation. On the 7th a much worn female of Galocampa 

 solidaginis was captured on heather-bloom. This is an insect new 

 to the district, but will, in all probability, be found commonly if 



