THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 



Entomological Notes, Captures, Sfc. 



Notes from Wilherslack, near Grange. — In January last, 

 tired of the monotony of winter, I took my bag and a iew 

 implements of the craft and started for Witherslack. At the 

 worst period of the year, and in miserable weather, little 

 could be done in Entomology ; yet a fair quantity of the 

 larrae of Psychoides verhuellella, feeding in A. Ruta-muraria 

 on the face of the rock opposite the inn, some Lithocolletes 

 spun-up in oak leaves, a few chrysalides from under moss on 

 trees, and a sackful of dead leaves of various species, will no 

 doubt reward the expedition later on in the year. This plan 

 of collecting large quantities of leaves, and keeping them 

 until at least midsummer, will be found to repay a trial, 

 especially by a Micro-Lepidopterist, — Nepticulae, Litho- 

 colletes, Incurvarise, and plenty of hybernating larvae, being 

 secured, which could not otherwise be easily obtained. The 

 months of January and July, in Witherslack, present indeed 

 a marked contrast; in the latter, everything that could be 

 desired by artist, botanist, or entomologist. Rich in insects, 

 plants, and scenery, the lover of Nature, having once rambled 

 through the woods of Ulpha, basked in the afternoon sun in 

 the " Plantation," or climbed the steep of Whitbarrow, must 

 indeed be fastidious if dissatisfied. But especially is this the 

 Paradise of the Micro-Lepidopterist, the various nature of the 

 soil and rocks favouring the growth of the most diverse 

 species of plants, and the broken character of the district 

 affording sheltered places for research in the most unfavour- 

 able weather. Small plantations of oak, birch, mountain-ash, 

 sallow, buckthorn, and various kinds of fir, break the mono- 

 tony of a large expanse of peat, covered with heather and 

 Myrica Gale, over which rise at intervals little hills of lime- 

 stone, with plants peculiar to themselves, and affording a 

 distant prospect of Morecambe Bay. Recollections of the 

 happy hours passed here with a friend, and hopes for the 

 coming future on the ground so well known, yet so exhaust- 

 less, made my trip as pleasant as according to general 

 opinion it would be disagreeable. Later on in the season I 

 hope to be able to send a few remarks on the Lepidoptera of 

 this district, not confining myself to the captures of any 

 particular year, but including the total results of many an 



