CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 297 



accompanied me. Next evening I proceeded to the same spot in possession 

 of a net, as I wauted a few more specimens of the insect ; but, to my great 

 disappointment, although the evening was milder if anything than the 

 previous one, not a single insect was attracted by the light, nor did I again 

 notice it on any other evening. The males of Diumea fagella were 

 abundant and very variable on oak-trunks during the beginning of April ; 

 the females were scarcer, only three or four being seen. On the evenings 

 of April 21st and 23rd larvae of the following species were taken plentifully 

 from a whitethorn hedge near the town: — Triphcena ianthina, T. fimbria, 

 T. orbona, Noctua triangulum, aud N. baia ; also a few Boarmia repandata. 

 With the assistance of a lantern these larvae are easily found after dark, 

 climbing up the almost naked twigs of whitethorn to reach the opening bud. 

 The larvae of Chelonia plantaginis were very scarce this season in the 

 locality where they are usually plentiful enough ; although I searched the 

 spot several times during April, I only picked up a very few. Sugaring 

 was tried for the first time this season on May 10th, but resulted in a com- 

 plete failure : not a single insect turned up. On May 15th — a lovely day — 

 I paid my annual visit to a moor where larvae of Orgyia fascelina occur, 

 and found them in all stages of growth as usual, from about a quarter to 

 nearly full-fed. Several males of Satumia carpini were observed flying in 

 the bright sunshine. From May 21st to 31st I paid several visits to 

 Ellwyn Hill, and collected larvae of Scodonia belgiaria and Bombyx quercus. 

 I also picked up several cocoons of Arctiafuliginosa, and took the following 

 insects on the wing: Fidonia atomaria, Melanippe subtristata, and Phyto- 

 metra anea. A very fine lot of Anarta myrtilli were also obtained at rest 

 on the top of the heather, several being found in cop. I have tried for some 

 time past to induce the female of this insect to deposit her ova in confine- 

 ment, but have been completely disappointed every season. I should be 

 very pleased to hear from any entomologist who has had success in this 

 direction. A fine specimen of Hadena giauca was taken at rest on heather 

 on June 4th ; also on the same day, Hadena dentina, Scodiona belgiaria, 

 and Hypsipetes impluviata, the latter at rest on alder trees. A week later, 

 when returning from a very unsuccessful day's collecting on Ellwyn Hill, I 

 observed the males of Bombyx rubi flying over the heath abundantly ; this 

 was about 6 p.m. I noticed that when struck at with the net they ascended 

 straight up into the air, sometimes so high as to be completely lost sight 

 of. During the latter end of June, dusking along the rides of a wood pro- 

 duced the following insects : — Rumia cratcegata, Metrocampa margaritata, 

 Ellopia fasciaria, Odontopera bidentata, Boarmia repandata, Cabera pu- 

 saria, Fidonia piniaria, Larentia pectinitaria, Thera simulata, T. variata, 

 Hypsipetes impluviata, Melanthia ocellata, Melanippe tristata, M. rivata, 

 M. subtristata, M. montanata, Camptogramma bilineata, Cidarta suffumata, 

 C. silaceata, C. fulvata and C. pyraliata, Eubolia pulumbaria, Hepialus 

 lupulinus aud H. humuli, Noctua plecta ; and by other methods, Acronycta 

 psi, Hecatera serena, Caradrina cubicularis, Rusina tenebrosa, and Arctia 

 menthastri. On June 19th a very fine specimen of Acronycta menyanthidis 

 was taken at rest on an ash-trunk. By July 2nd Lycana astrarche var. 

 artaxerxes was well out, and in company with it were L. alexis, Ccenonympha 

 pamphilus, Satyrus ianira, and S. hyperanthes. On July 10th I took a 

 good specimen of Amphidasys betularia at rest on the ground, and found 

 the remains of another, which had evidently been attacked by a bird, near 

 the same spot. On July 12th one specimen of Thyatira batis was taken 

 flying at dusk. Sugaring was again tried on the night of July 13th, but 



