A MONTH IN THE NEW FOREST. 201 



a few Diphthera or'ion, Acronycta Ugustri, Epunda viminalis, and 

 three Aventia flexula, in addition to the usual crowd of common 

 summer Noctuae ; but " Where is Dicycla oo ? " was the cry of every 

 collector I met with ; when will this erratic species appear again ? 

 Catocala promissa first came to sugar on the 13th, and I have now 

 upwards of thirty perfect specimens in my store-boxes. The 

 almost equally beautiful C. sponsa abounded at Bolder Ford by 

 the 22nd, and to bottle forty of this grand insect, as well as a few 

 C. iwomissa, before I had occasion hitherto to light the lantern, 

 was certainly one of my most exciting entomological experiences. 

 Of other local insects in the Forest I have only to add single 

 specimens of Limacodes asellus and Acosmetia callglnosa. 



Sometimes I turned my attention to Brockenhurst Heath and 

 the adjoining bog, which made a pleasant change in the collecting. 

 On the heath I found Pseudoptopna cytisaria, the peat form of 

 Gnophos obscurata, and Selidosema p)lumavia, plentiful in the day- 

 time ; and I had some good "spurts" after Heliothis dipsacea, 

 which interesting insect was not abundant, and difficult to secure 

 in good condition. There also Hyria auroraria turned up, and at 

 dusk enough Acidalia straminata to make out a series. Acidalia 

 emutaria was plentiful on the bog at sunset, a few Leucania 

 pudorina, and towards the close of my visit one Niularia senex 

 only, and a nice lot of Nonagria despecta. Geometra papilionaria 

 occurred near the Lymington Biver, and I have brought away a 

 very fine series, some attracted by light, others found at rest by 

 day, and after their first flight at dusk. 



By the 1st of August the collecting dropped ofi", and I therefore 

 devoted some time to larva beating, which seemed unprofitable ; 

 a solitary larva of Acronycta alni and three oi Staur opus fag i are all 

 I can report of consequence. Demas coryli larvse were abundant. 

 By means of the beating- stick I worried out some very pretty 

 forms of Sarrothripa revayana ; and by the time I furled my net 

 on the 5th of August, and contemplated the shattered remains of 

 my umbrella, I had ample reason to be satisfied with my first visit 

 to the New Forest. 



I must not omit to add that I am indebted to IMr. W. Harper 

 for much valuable aid in my labours, and to the courtesy of Mr, 

 W. Jobson for a knowledge of some special localities. 

 RunDymede Park, Egham, August 13, l8bl. 



2d 



