RANDOM NOTES ON 1912. 237 



hour later most of the males were in an attitude of rest, though one or 

 two appeared still to be calling. 



When H. hecta had settled down, H. hipuUna began to fly, the 

 males dashing wildly in search of the females over the damper patches 

 of ground. Both of us took a few beautiful specimens almost uni- 

 formly cream coloured, and Mr. Jackson took one with normal ground 

 colour, but greatly extended white markings. The strange contrast in 

 the habits of these two Hepialids suggests that their relationship is not 

 very close, in spite of their somewhat similar appearance. 



On June 9th, less than two hours larva-beating produced 45 larvae 

 of Panolis jnniperda, some very small, others fullfed, a very small larva 

 of Bupalua piniaria, and four rather larger ones of Thera firmata. 

 One of the T. firmata larvae fed up fairly quickly, and pupating on 

 July 8th, produced a rather dark imago on July 26th, but the others, 

 on October 1st, are not yet fullfed. The first brood of the insect 

 must have been out in early May, and if others emerged as early as 

 July 26th, there may be a third brood this year. The larvae invariably 

 rest so that the red-brown head is near the similarly coloured base of 

 the pine needles, and this, together with their habit of eating almost 

 the whole of the needle attacked, makes them very difficult indeed to 

 see even in captivity. 



On June 23rd there were many Sesia stellatarum, rather worn, 

 hovering over the beach between Dover and Folkestone, and looking 

 like recent immigrants. 



On July 7th I journeyed to Bristol, and although Acidalia liolo- 

 sericeata was out as early as June 20th, I obtained a fine series of both 

 sexes. Variation is very slight, and in the direction of the formation 

 of a more distinct basal or submarginal band. From ova laid loose 

 in the box, and not on the HeliantJtemum provided, I now have larvs 

 in their third instar feeding on knotgrass. A. bisetata, A. iviitaria, 

 and A. niari/inepioictata, with a very fresh female of Ligdia adustata 

 (2nd brood), were also taken. 



On July 13th I joined Mr. Jackson at Marlborough, and we walked 

 through the magnificent beech avenues of Savernake Forest to 

 Savernake, where we stayed for the week end. Melanargia fjalathea 

 was abundant, and several T'. io and P. atalanta were seen ; Argynnis 

 adippe, A. aglaia, and Drr/as paphia were all in fine condition, the first 

 being the commonest. Aphantnpns hyperantus was very plentiful, and 

 I was fortunate to take two ab. arete without much trouble. Two 

 Epinephele tithonits, a male C. argiolus, one Bithys [Thecla) qnercus 

 and three Chattendenia w-albmn were seen, with a few Odezia atrata. 



At dusk in a narrow lane we caught Opisthograptis luteolata 

 (crataegata), Boarmia repandata, B. gemmaria, Mesnleuca ocellata, 

 Melantliia bicolorata [ritbiginata), Cidaria pyraliata, Melenydris 

 didyniata, Hydriomena furcata, Pldbalapteryx tersata, PJupithecia 

 hogramwata^ Agrotis ravida, A. e.rdainationis, Hadena oleracea, 

 Caradrina blanda, Apamea oculea, and Lencania pollens, while along 

 the canal bank L. iinpura was abundant, and one Hydrilla arcnosa 

 was seen. In the woods ray friend captured a fine Kuc/iloris pustidata 

 and a very fresh Aridolia inornata. 



At Box Hill on July 20th T caught a fresh Eupithecia coronata (2nd 

 brood), one Urbicola comma, and two Argynnis aglaia. 



In spite of threatening weather, I went on July 28th to try and 



