THE LEPIDOPTERA OF HACKNEY MARSHES. 278 



Abraxas grossulariata fortunately is not common, and out of the 

 Eiqjithecics three species only have been discovered at present, 

 these being E. vidgata, E. subnotata, and E. centaureata, the latter 

 being common on flowers at night, the two former being rather 

 scarce. Melanippe fluctuata is abundant and well distributed ; 

 Coremia unidentaria and Camptogramma bilineata being more 

 localised, both, however, being fairly plentiful. Pelurga comitata 

 concludes the list, but is rarelj^ seen, though its food-plant, 

 Chenopodium, is ver)^ abundant. 



Of Noctuffi we have a more plentiful supj)ly, a large number 

 being grass-feeders. Acronycta psi and A. megacephala are both 

 numerous, as are also Leucania pallens and L. impura, the larvae 

 of which may be obtained, in the early spring, on grasses at night. 

 Hydroecia micacea is decidedly scarce, only three having been 

 observed. Axylia putris, Xylophasia polyodon, and X. lithoxylea 

 are all common, the latter frequently being a perfect pest at sugar. 

 Dipterygia pinastri, once fairly common, is now rare without any 

 apparent reason. Mamestra brassicce and M. persicarice both 

 appear in abundance. Of the seven species of Apamea no less 

 than five occur, namely, A. basUlnea, A. gemina, A. unanimis, 

 A. ophiogramma, and A. ocidea, A. ophiogramma being the rarest; 

 but it may be confidently reckoned upon at its right time, coming 

 to both sugar and thistle flower-heads. A. ocidea is very 

 numerous, all varieties being common. 



Miana strigdis occurs abundantly ; M. fasciuncula rarely. 

 Car'adrina Morpheus is generally a pest, being in great numbers ; 

 its congeners, C. alsines and C. cuhicidaris, however, being much 

 more rarely seen. Agrotis segetam is scarce, but its absence is 

 made up for by the abundance of A. exclamationis. A. nigricans 

 is also fairly common. TriphcBna pronuba, as usual, is a nuisance. 

 Noctua plecta, N. c-nigrum, N. rubi, and N. xantJiographa are 

 common, the larvae of the latter being very plentiful, in early 

 spring, upon grass banks. The larvse of Tceniocampa gothica are 

 also very numerous on dock in June, and those of Orthosia 

 upsilon a little earlier, ascending the willow-trunks at dusk ; 

 this moth comes readily to sugar in the early part of Jul}'. 



Phlogophora meticidosa is a rarity ; not unknown, however. 

 Hadena chenopodii, as usual, is most abundant in the larval state 

 upon knot-grass, goose-foot, &c. ; H. oleracea being equally 

 abundant in all stages. Plusia gamma, Mania typica, M. maura. 



2 N 



