NINE DAYS AT RANNOCH. 135 



glory is taken when the snow is knee -deep. Swarms of Geo- 

 metrae flew out of the pines, dislodged partly by the wind, and 

 partly ;by the vibration as we passed ; and among others we 

 thought we recognised by its superior size and peculiar slate- 

 coloured appearance, the local variety of Boarmia repandata. 



On alighting we commenced searching the boles of the pine 

 trees, obtaining three varieties of the above ; some magnificent 

 forms of Larentia ccesiata ; a few Bupalus piniaria, the pale 

 patch in the centre of the wings being white instead of yellow, 

 but the species was worn, and not worth taking; Tliera variata, 

 also worn ; and, by carefully watching the bilberry, half a dozen 

 Halia hrunneata {pinetaria), just emerging. The afternoon was 

 very windy, consequently we lost many an insect by being unable 

 to chase it over the rough broken ground. We mothed all the 

 way home in the dusk, obtaining, however, only L. ccesiata, 

 Coremia munitata, C. immanata, and our old friend E. adcequata. 



The next day we walked along the road past Tempar, and 

 turning to the right crossed several walls, with Schiehallion right 

 ahead of us. On one of these walls we took E. minorata in 

 plenty, whilst L. ccesiata was a perfect pest. We also worked a 

 very picturesque burn in this neighbourhood, but the result was 

 much the same as at Innerhadden. In the evening a solitary 

 specimen of Dasydia obfuscata was the only new capture ; and an 

 attempt by both of us at trout fishing proved futile. Another 

 journey was made to the Black Wood, but it turned very stormy, 

 and only by luck did we happen to obtain a few more 

 H. hrunneata, and one Cidafia populata, almost black. 



On July 7th the weather completely broke up, and one of us 

 stopping on for a few days longer gained nothing entomologically 

 by the extended time. We were, however, thoroughly satisfied 

 with the work done, which, by-the-bye, is very much harder than 

 entomologising in the South of England ; and only those wlio can 

 stand a long tramp over rough mountainous country should 

 entertain a visit to Eannoch. Our conviction is that the insects 

 sold by dealers, who work the place, are thoroughly worth the 

 price asked, — for example, imagos of Pachnobia lujperhorea 

 are chiefly to be obtained by spending the night on mountain 

 crags enveloped in mist; this last condition being said to be 

 essential to a " good " night. 



We were fortunate enough to obtain comfortable lodgings in 



