48 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



discovered neatly attached to the under side of the bough ; but what 

 astonished us was that the egg did not break, or even crack, though it fell 

 some six feet. On arriving at an uncultivated grassy field surrounded by 

 woods, Thecla riibi was seen flitting over the blackthorns. Presently a 

 small Noctua started up, but owing to the wind I had some difficulty in 

 netting it; however, I was rewarded with a specimen of Acontia luctiiosa. 

 I searched for some time in vain for others, but, meanwhile, my father and 

 other members of the party found it plentiful on the sheltered side of the 

 field, and twenty were taken in about half an hour. Emmelesia decolorata, 

 Cidaria russata, Agrotis exclamationis, Hadena dentina, H. genistce, and 

 Euclidia mi were also taken. Of larvae, lodis vernaria, of which we took 

 ten, was the best. As there is a tremendous quantity of Clematis vitalba 

 all round Shoreham, this insect should be common : the larvae were 

 scattered over a rather large area. Treacle produced Grammesia trigram- 

 mica, Miana strigilis, Apamea basilinea, Agrotis exclamationis, A. corticea, 

 Hadena genista, and a good female Selenia lunaria. In the station, a fine 

 female Bombyx rubi, also Dipterygia pi7iastri and Apamea basilinea were 

 taken at the lamp. We failed to find any other J5. rubi, though my father 

 had observed the males flying in profusion at Shoreham in 1897. 



On July 4th, while treacling in the garden at Lee, I was surprised to 

 see an enormous moth on the treacle, which proved to be a female Cossus 

 ligniperda. I had never taken this insect before, and had always under- 

 stood that it was seldom taken in the perfect state, A fortnight later, 

 however, a second specimen was taken, flying round a poplar-tree in the 

 garden. The larva has been unpleasantly abundant in a garden in Lee, 

 where every tree was full of them, and the smell was terrific. They also 

 attacked the fence to such an extent that a fresh one has been put up. 

 Other insects taken at treacle at Lee during July were Leucania impura, 

 L. litkargyria, Miana strigilis var. (Bthiops, Xylophasia lithoxylea, X. poly- 

 odon, Diptergyia pinastri, Agrotis exclamationis, Apamea ophiogramma, A. 

 didyma, Mamestra brassiccB, M. persicaricB, Hadena oleracea, Triphcena 

 pronuba, Cosmia affinis, Exiplexia lucipara, Ncenia typdca, Amphipyra 

 tragopogonis, Mania maura and Acronycta megacephala. Of moths taken 

 by other means, single specimens of Smerinthus populi (July 26th), 

 Leucoma salicis, Phibalapteryx tersata, and Triphmna fimbria were the 

 principal ones. I have never seen the last named in Lee before ; it was 

 taken by Mr. J. Wilson, in his garden, at rest on an elm-tree. Larvae of 

 Smerinthus populi, S. tilicB, Cerura vinida, and Acronycta megacephala 

 turned up as usual. Of butterflies, Vanessa atalanta favoured us in large 

 numbers, and several Cynthia (Vanessa) cardui and one V. io were also 

 seen. We spent the evening of July 6th at Bexley. Nola strigula was 

 taken on a tree-trunk, Hepialus hectus at dusk, and Aplecta nebidosa at 

 treacle. Ten days later we travelled to the same locality for the afternoon, 

 my father staying for the evening. Beating produced ten Calligenia 

 viiniata, and single specimens of Lithosia lurideola, Limacodes testudo, and 

 Lophopteryx camelina ; also larvae of Ligdia adustata and Ennomos fus' 

 cantaria (one). Among other things at dusk, Vericallia syringaria, and a 

 brown-suffused specimen of Hypsipetes elutata were taken. Treacle at 

 Paul's Cray, on July 9th, produced Lithosia compilana (one), H. elutata, 

 Noctua baia, and Hydrcecia nictitans. 



The additions to the Lee insects during August were Lyccena icarus, 

 Orgyia antiqua, Pelurga comitata, Miana furuncula, Triphana ianthina, 

 Gatocala nupta, Hadena chenopodii, and Phlogophora nieticulosa. Larvae 



