84 THE entomologist's record. 



Nearly all the females were sacrificed for ova, but in vain, as they 

 could not be induced to lay. 



A few Acidalia fiaiiata were walked up in the heather, but were 

 almost over, and among the pines were a number of Thera variata, 

 occasional Kllni>ia prosa/iiaria {fasciaria) on the trunks, and a few 

 liiipalas piniarin on the wing. rob/oiinnatiis icarus was common, 

 and probably would have paid for working, but we never got time. A 

 few lUi'nt/iis selene were about and Arm/nnis ai/laia already well out, 

 a few very fine dark females falling to each of us. The males on 

 the contrary seem to show no difi'erenee from the southern type. 



The only other species taken on this north side of the river were 

 occasional Coreniia inunitata, Melant/iia ocdlnta, and Men i/ieldia 

 tiidartijla {tetradacti/la), a single FjKpithccia pnlc/iellata, and a very 

 short series of Scoparia alpina. Mr. Mutch took Crainbus nn/ellns one 

 evening, but we never worked the ground at night. For one thing, 

 night work scarcely commences before 10 or 10.15 p.m., so light are 

 the evenings, and the head keeper, who looked after us well, and always 

 rowed us across the Dee, rose very early in the morning, and we 

 suspected him of keeping equally early hours at night. He added 

 greatly to the pleasure of the days, with his many anecdotes and 

 experiences. Invercauld being the next estate to Balmoral, his 

 knowledge of Royalty is as local and peculiar as his entomology. He 

 would say for example " He is a nice young chap, the young Prince 

 of Wales ; have you ever met him to speak to ? " as if one might meet 

 him casually in town. His discretion on such subjects however is 

 beyond reproach. 



Each evening, as I said before, we spent on the hillside, behind the 

 town, working up through the wood and getting treacle on in time for 

 the earliest dusking. One of the first species to fiy was Scopula 

 alpiiialis, then Larentia caesiata and a few //. salicata, followed by 

 tJcpialxs velleda, Lycopltotia striiiiila, and h/iipitlievia nanata, the first 

 of the three already worn to rags. It was almost dark before Coronia 

 iiniiiitata flew, and a very fine series was taken of this species, about 

 20% being of a yellowish form. They flew and rested on the heather 

 for short intervals and flew again, right on till we gave up about 12.0 

 or 12.30. 



Mrhoit/iia ocellata occurred occasionally in the wood, with several 

 familiar southern species such as Miianip}n' innntanata, Cabcra piiNoria, 

 Mt'trocaiiipa tnanjaritaria, and Larentia viridaria [pectinitaria). 



Cidan'a {tnincata) riissata was also common in the wood, coming 

 freely to treacle, and was a fine strongly-marked race of varying 

 forms. The white-banded form was, I think, the finest. 



Round a cottage, high up on the hillside, was a magnificent lot of 

 willow herb (a garden variety), unfortunately not discovered until the 

 last evening — a very chilly one. Judging by the numbers of moths 

 attracted on this cold night, I regretted missing it earlier. There 

 were plenty of Larentia eaeniata, (J. truncata, and Xortiia festiva, a fair 

 lot of (J. inunitata, three fine I'lnsia pnlr/irina, and an odd /'. e/tri/sitis. 



A single Carsia inihntata was seen by Mr. Tait on the last night, 

 and walking home through the wood, quite late, a fine J'^tijrithma 

 tn;iata was netted. We were expecting Thera empiata [sinnilata), but 

 although we closely watched the juniper clumps it was evidently not 

 yet out. 



