126 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Flitting about, in the partial shade afforded by beech and fir trees, 

 were a few Micropteryx Thunbergella, affording no clue, however, 

 to the habits of the unknown larvse ; those I took were in fine 

 condition, evidently only just out. 



Upon leaving the wood I had to clamber over a loose shingle- 

 wall, at the knminent risk of personal injury. I got over safely, 

 however, and found myself, for the first time this season, face to 

 face with Nemeohius Lucina, which, with Thanaos Tages, was flying 

 about in the sunshine ; a series was soon completed, when I 

 turned my attention to Ennychia octomaculalis, but this lively 

 gentleman defied ray utmost efforts, — when the sun is really hot 

 this insect does fly. Amongst the golden-rod I was fortunate 

 enough to obtain about a dozen fine Catoptria aspidiscana, but it 

 was roughish work, as the plant grows on a ver}^ slippery limestone 

 formation, evidentl}^ the remains of an old glacier, which is 

 traversed in all directions with deep and narrow holes, partiallj^ 

 hidden with verdure ; and the sensation of having one leg suddenly 

 and by no means gently disappear, while the other one remains 

 stuck out in front, to say nothing of the temporary inconvenience 

 caused by the shock, is not the pleasantest situation in the world. 

 Eupcecilia 7'ujiciliana was common among cowslips. 



About 12.30 I came upon my friend Mr. Threlfall, and as he 

 was going on to Witherslack I packed up my bag and joined him. 

 Upon our arrival at the " Derby Arms," our head-quarters, we 

 put ourselves in light marching order, and under a blazing sun 

 started off for a row of birch trees growing on the moor about 

 two miles away. We were lucky enough to obtain a few examples 

 of the rare Nepticida lapponica, which, I believe, has only been 

 taken in one other locality in England, viz. Scarborough, by the late 

 Mr. Wilkinson. At every step amongst the heather such insects 

 as PJioxopteryx uncana and P. unguicana, Clepsis rusticana, Gele- 

 chia ericetella, Elachista Kilmanella (in swarms), and Micropteryx 

 Allionella, started up, and after a short flight of a few yards 

 settled again. Here I made my first acquaintance with Thecla 

 rubi, alive and on the wing ; and a few minutes afterwards — a 

 lucky back-hander with the net — terminated the somewhat hasty 

 flight of a fine male Saturnia carpini. The local little Primula 

 farinosa, one of the prettiest of our English flowers, was scattered 

 about in some profusion. When the sun went down a cold breeze 

 sprang up, which prevented any further captures for that day. 



