16 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Septeinber : I was very pleased to find Xylina socia at sugar in 

 the garden and not uncommon. I had three moths of this species, at 

 the same time, at one quite small patch of sugar ; Noctua castanea 

 was also a visitor. Plastenis retusa fell to the beating-stick at 

 Holmsley. Acedia cristana was very scarce among the thorns in the 

 Queen Bower district. When beating for this species I could not 

 help but disturb a good many Acalla contaminana, one of which 

 was specially interesting in having a conspicuous white button. — 

 F. G. Whittle ; 7, Marine Avenue, Southend-on-Sea. 



Lepidoptera in Cambeidgeshiee. — Although the little moth- 

 collecting I have done this year has been confined to the garden, I 

 have taken a number of moths at sugar, including two I have not 

 seen here before, viz. Thyaiira hatis and Anchocelis lunosa. . Xantliia 

 ocellaris again occurred, though not in such numbers as in 1914. I 

 took six (all males) in fine condition and missed several others, . 

 which I hope will " carry on." They were all amongst w^ych elm. 

 Some day I hope to succeed in breeding this insect. The following 

 is a list of my principal captures (all at sugar, light, of course, being 

 out of the question). 



Jime and July. — CymatoioJiora ocularis {octogesima) (four, one 

 nice var.). Thyatira hatis (one, second record only for this neigh- 

 bourhood). Habrosyne clerasa (common). A-plecta aclvena (two only). 

 Hadena trifolii (common May- — August). 



August — October. — Triphana finnbria, T. lanthina, T. interjecta, 

 T. orbona, and T. pronuha (common, but late and worn ; also noticed 

 on ragwort with Noctua umbrosa, N. rubi, Hydrcecia nictitans, etc.) 

 Agrotts imta (common), Epiinda lutulenta (very common, many^ 

 strange to say, in good condition). Cosmia affinis (common). 

 C. diffinis (scarce at sugar). Anchocelis lunosa (one, the first seen 

 here). A. pistacina (some very dark forms). Girrhia citrago, 

 Xanthia flavago (very dark "bands"), X. fulvago (all common and 

 early ; citrago first appeared on August 20th). Xanthia {Mdlinia) 

 gilvago (about a dozen). This species is getting scarce in the 

 garden. The last time I saw it in abundance was in 1909, when 

 I set nearly 200 (some var. palleago) ; there must have been 

 thousands at light and sugar. M. circellaris was very common at 

 the same time, but no ocellaris such as I take now, though they 

 occurred near by. 



Xanthia Mellinia ocellaris (six, see above). This species had not^ 

 in my opinion, the slightest resemblance to any form of gilvago, as I 

 have seen stated. Obscurely marked circellaris have sometimes to 

 be looked at twice on the sugar, but with ocellaris beside them a 

 great difference is at once apparent. The latter is a much more 

 delicate and " neater " looking insect, and when flushed with pink (as- 

 occurs here) is a delight to see (and set !). 



Xylina semibrimnea (eight — three hopeless cripples) together with 

 one Plusia festucce (September 12th), complete my list of those taken 

 at sugar, which, considering the abominable weather and the small 

 area in which I collected (less than three acres of garden), is really 

 quite good. 



