67 



LEPIDOPTERA. IN 1896. 



Notes from the Chester District. 

 (Continued from vol. xxix. p. 216). 



Lepidoptera. — In June, at Chester, Tlmindra amataria, Phiba- 

 lapterijM Utjnata (both plentiful), CilLv spinnla, Hepialus Inumdi vars. with 

 primaries marked brown, //. lupalinus (one unicolorous without the white 

 markings on primaries), Melanlppe montanata, Ruiiiia luteolata {crat(Bf/atci), 

 il/". sociata, Emmelesia decolorata, Cidaria dotata (puraliala), Acidalla 

 aversata, Hydrocampa nijinphcdala with very dark forms, Eurrhypara 

 iirticata, Hijpena prohoscidalis , Spilodes verticalis (last four species about 

 ponds and marshes), XantJioselia hamana (by road-sides), Xylophasia rurea 

 with var. alopecurus, Pluilera bucephala, Phlogophora mellculosa, Piusia 

 chryutis with the banded form, P. festitcce (worn), P. iota (scarce) P. pul- 

 chrina var. aiireum (one), P. gamma (very few this season), Hadena 

 oleracea, Apamea yemina (variable as usual), Hydnecia nictitans, A. oculea 

 (very variable). At Delamere Forest, on June ^Oth, Cteuonympha typhon 

 (davus) (four specimens only — too late for the butterfly this hot season), 

 Bombyx quercus, Drepana falcataria, X. polyodoii. Anarta viyriilli wsls 

 not so abundant as last season ; specimens " dark reddish black " (see Cata- 

 logue of Lepidoptera of Ireland, Entom. xxix. p. 233), but with the white 

 central spot on primaries clear and well developed ; I took one, however, 

 with this spot entirely absent. Camptoyramma b'dineata, Ematurya ato- 

 maria (dark vars., and a nearly black male), AspUates slriyillaria with very 

 dark forms (not so abundant this season). 



In July, at Chester, H. oleracea, P. festuccB (one), P. chrysitis (one of 

 two specimens a banded form), H. humuli (one), a C spinula ou the 

 Slst (second brood), C. dotata [pyraliata), Larentia d'ulymata (large and 

 very dark), L. viridaria {pectinitaria), Epione apiciaria (two worn males), 

 PUvida sericealis, Zancloynatha grlsealls (last two very local, by pond 

 margins). At Delamere Forest, on the 23rd, Cmnonympha pamphihis, 

 Polyommatus phlceas, Lycaina icarus [alexis] (all comparatively scarce). I 

 was in London until August. From the tops of the West End omnibuses 

 I frequently saw butterflies, dark and of the size of Vanessa tirtica; ; also 

 a day-flying moth, probably Orgyia antiqua. A few very dusky forms of C. 

 pamphilus seen on the bare, sunburnt fields between New Baruet and 

 Had ley Wood. 



On Aug. 6th, in North Wales, I never saw vegetation so poor, thin, and 

 sun-dried ; hardly a trace of the usual wealth of flowers, and very few 

 insects. L. didymata with forms almost white to almost black, Paraye 

 megara (one), Pieris brassicce (common locally). On the 8th, at Delamere 

 Forest, hardly any insects, Hypsipetes elutata (two), Chaicms yraminis 

 (tawny and black-brown forms), C. jMaias (one). Near Chester, F. to, P. 

 rapai, Noctua umbrosa, Coremia designata (propugnata), Cabera exanthe- 

 mata, N. xanthographa (reddish and black forms), Paraponyx stratiotalis, 

 E. apiciaria (worn), second broods of Liparis aurijiua, C. spinula, P. 

 lignata. At gas-lamps moths were equally scarce — three specimens of Eii- 

 gonia erosaria [iiliaria), one a female. 



In September, at gas-lamps, Neuronia popularis, Luperina testacea, L. 

 cespitis (all males), Melanippe Jiuctuata, Cidaria russata (two or three veiy 

 small and poor examples of each). 



g2 



