94 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



posts or trees were available, sugar was applied to the flowers of thistles 

 with good effect. By this method swarme of comraou Agrotidse were 

 attracted, especially A. tritici, and Geoiuetrse, particularly Melanippe 

 galiata, were cotnraon. Among other insects taken in this way were 

 A. suffusa, A. exclamationis, A. lunigera (two), A. segetum {numerous), and 

 A. prcBcox (two beauties). Noctua c-nigrum, N. baia, N. umhrosa, and 

 numerous Apameas which hung about very late. The most abundant 

 insect during the day was Macroglossa stellatarutn, which swarmed every- 

 where. Many came into the house and were captured on the window- 

 frames, and many more were released. I remember counting fifteen of 

 them, hovering over a strip of valerian on the roadside leading down into 

 Boscastle. Only one specimen of Colias edusa was seen, but other butter- 

 flies were very plentiful ; indeed, I never remember having seen so many 

 in one dav as 1 did on Aug. 12th, on the road between Bude and Morweu- 

 stow. Gonopteryx rhamni was abundant, and Argynnis p)aphia was still in 

 good condition. The common VanesssB, and especially V. atalanta, 

 swarmed. I also noticed several specimens of Zygana JilipendulcB flying 

 on the Bude sandhills during the early part of August. The weather 

 throughout this month was remarkably fine and hot. 



Having returned to Reading in September, I resumed collecting in 

 that district, The autumn butterflies were plentiful, as was also Macro- 

 glossa stellatarum. No sugaring was done in the autumn, but attention 

 was paid to the ivy-bloom. Insects were extremely scarce, owing to cold 

 foaov nights. The only moth which was at all common was the ever- 

 present Phlogophora meticulosa, while Cerastis vaccinii came next. Vanessa 

 atalanta was on the wing as late as Nov. 5th, and about this date swarms 

 of Cheimatobia brumata and Hybernia defoUaria made their appearance in 

 the orchard at night. These moths appear to defy cold, and may be seen 

 flvinf» freely anv frosty night. No more insects were captured during the 

 year. It will thus be seen that on the whole the season did not produce 

 much here, though I have heard of others who had better luck. — E. T. B. 

 Reece. 



Larv^-beating in 1899 compared with 1898. — It may be interesting 

 to lepidopterists living in the London district, and who use the beating- 

 tray, to compare the following rough notes on the past two years with their 

 own experiences. Speaking generally, 1899 must be considered, if not 

 belter, at least an equal of its predecessor. The localities visited were, with 

 the exception of a iew days spent m the New Forest, within the twelve 

 mile radius Halias quercana was scarcer in the generally worked 

 localities, but in a favourite haunt, which I believe is little known and less 

 worked, it was quite as abundant as in 1898, being as usual attended with 

 many common larvae. Thecla betula, which in tbe former year had been 

 exceedingly scarce (only four larvae being taken), was decidedly plentiful, 

 during four or five excursions upwards of four dozen falUng to the tray; 

 the first day, June 10th (when the larvae were very small), being the most 

 successful. T. quercus was more plentiful in the New Forest during the 

 past year, but larvae of this species very few and far between in the London 

 district. Liparis monacha, Bombyx neustria, Trichmra cratmgi, Aviphi- 

 dasys betularia, Odontopera bidentata, and Cleora lichenaria were scarcer 

 than in 1898 ; the latter of course really requires searching for. Diloba 

 caruleocephala, Notodonta camelina, Miselia oxyacanthcB, Himera pennaria, 

 Ihopteryx sanibucata, CrocalUs elinguaria, Selenia lunaria, S. illunaria. 



