LEPIDOPTERA IN SOUTH DEVONSHIRE. 327 



August 10th, the predominating form being decidedly the orange 

 one. Other local species, usually common — as, for instance, 

 Cidaria jjicata, and several Acidalias — were conspicuous by their 

 absence, but Acidalia maruinepunctata, Gnophos ohscurata, Mela- 

 nippe (jaliata, Aspilates ciiraria, Euholia lincolata, and Larentia 

 olivata were abundant. BryopMla muralis was taken, in the 

 pupa state, by several friends of mine near Dawlish up to nearly 

 the end of August in large numbers ; these produced many 

 examples of the dark brown form. 



As regards Golias edusa, I have never before seen the species 

 in such profusion as during the week following August loth, and, 

 remembering the great edusa year of 1877, when I happened to 

 be on the East coast, I think that the past season, at least in 

 Devonshire, ran quite parallel with it. They were simply 

 swarming in the clover fields and lanes, and I might have taken 

 fifty in an afternoon had I so desired. I captured a few of var. 

 hdice, but I did not see any C. hijalc, although three or four 

 specimens were said to have been taken by a local collector. 



On August 24th, Mr. Porritt arrived, and we left Starcross 

 for another locality, to work for some of the rarer Noctuas. 

 The weather had by this time become settled, but, although 

 fine and sunny during the day, we found the nights cold, with a 

 bright moon. Sugaring, therefore, proved less profitable at first 

 than anticipated. The democratic 2'riphcena pronuba and T. 

 comes, Aqrotis sefjetum, A. suffusa, A. piita, Leucania pollens, 

 Noctiia plecta, N. c-nigrum, N. xanthographa, Amplupyra trago- 

 pogonis, Mianafuruncula, Mamestra hrass'ica (second brood), and, 

 somewhat later, Agrotis saiicia, Xanthia circellai-is, Anchocelis 

 rufina, and A. lunosa were extremely common: likewise Cam- 

 drina ambigua, which continued on the wing quite a month. 

 Noctua casfanea var. ncglecta also came freely to sugar. The 

 first warm nights produced three Leucania albipuncta, singly, 

 and on the evening of September 8th Mr. Porritt took five 

 more, and one Lajjhi/gma exigua a few days later. One L. albi- 

 puncta had been taken on August 15th, and it was therefore a 

 matter for congratulation that specimens of this species were still 

 in good condition. Mr. Porritt had unfortunately to leave before 

 me, and, working single-handed, I took five L. exigua on Sep- 

 tember 17th (a very warm and still night), and three more on the 

 following nights. My other captures included Leucania vitellina, 

 Heliothis armigera, Epunda lichenea, Noctua glarcosa, Nonagria 

 lutosa, Hydroecia nictitans, Calocampa exoleta, Heliophobus popu- 

 laris, Acronycta rumicis (second brood), Noctua rubi, Cosmia 

 diffinis and ajfinis, Folia chi, P.Jiavicincta, and females of Stilbia 

 anoniala at sugar as late as September 17th ; whilst a few 

 males of the latter M'ere netted flying among the gorse close 

 at hand. After my departure on September 22nd, I have been 

 informed that Epunda niara and E. lutulcnta were taken as 



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