NOTES, CAPTURKS, ETC. 288 



pyramidea occurred in great profusion, from sixteen to twenty 

 specimens being frequently observed upon a single tree. On the 

 other hand, such common species as Xylophasia monoglypha, 

 Noctua xanthographa, Tryphana pronuha, and Cosmia trapezina 

 only appeared ver}'' sparingly ; also Gonophora derasa, Leucania 

 turca (worn), Aplecta prasina, A. nehulosa, Catocala promissa, and 

 C. sponsa (one only), but later on it was taken in large numbers. 

 I did not find the heaths very productive. An expedition after 

 Acidalia straminata and Selidosema ericetaria was unsuccessful, 

 but Satyriis semele, Lyccena cegon, Pseudoterpna pruinata, and 

 Agrotis strigida were plentiful. Very few Geometers put in an 

 appearance at dusk. Among those taken were Epione apiciaria, 

 Ellopia p)rosapiaria, Pericallia syringaria, Crocallis elinguaria, 

 Ennomos angidaria, Cleora Uchenaria, Gnophos obscuraria, Phoro- 

 desma pustidata, Ligdia adustata, Melanthia albicillata, Coremia 

 designata, Scotosia dubitata, Cidaria picata. Among the larvae 

 thrashed out were Selenia tetralunaria, Ennomos iiliaria, 

 E. angidaria, Amphydasis strataria, Deprana lacertinaria, 

 Stauropus fagi (very small), Notodonta dromedarius, N. chaonia, 

 N. trimacida, Cymatophora ridens (a few, mostly ichneumoned), 

 Acronycta tridens, and A. leporina. I understand that C. ridens 

 had been unusually abundant. On the whole I think the present 

 season, in the New Forest especially, has been a great improve- 

 ment upon any since that of 188J, which, if I remember rightly, 

 followed a long and severe winter, such as the last experienced. 

 — Alfred T. Mitchell ; 5, Clayton Terrace, Gunnersbury, W., 

 Sept. 12, 1887. 



Moths settling on Water. — In the 'Entomologist' (p. 225), 

 Mr. H. G. Sheldon notices the fact that he has found Lepidoptera 

 capable of rising from the surface of the water on the salt-marshes 

 of Shoeburyness. Perhaps it may be of interest to relate that 

 while watching the lake of St. Moritz I was surprised to notice 

 the movements of a certain Geometer, very common in the 

 adjacent pine woods. It apparently took great pleasure in the 

 water, and hundreds of them might be seen dipping like swallows 

 upon the surface. Several, however, ventured yet farther, and 

 lay with their wings extended almost on the water, but apparently 

 found no difficulty in directing their flight upward when disturbed 

 in their bath. — H. Rowland Brown ; Oxhey Grove, Stanmore, 

 Middlesex, September 2, 1887. 



