68 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
across a dense colony of Lycena adonis, some of the females being very 
prettily marked. Satyrus semele seemed almost to have abandoned the 
moss on which it swarmed during the two previous years. We did not see 
a single Argynnis adippe or A. aglaia, but perhaps we were too late for 
them, although in other years they have always proved very numerous in 
August. On one bright, sunny day we captured between us twenty-one 
specimens, in fine condition, of that delicate little insect, Lewcophasia 
sinapis, which, strange to say, were taken on the grassy slopes of the cliff, 
and, contrary, I think, to their usual custom, kept fluttering from flower to 
flower. On the same cliffs Hesperia actgon disported itself in great 
numbers fora short time, but a storm of rain, which continued for several 
days, completely swept them away. I should like to mention that Colias 
edusa caused us the same disappointment as last year, and failed to put in 
an appearance. Turning now to the Geometers, Acidalia subsericeata and 
Gnophos obscurata were exceptionally abundant, while Emmelesia affini- 
tata, E.. decolorata, Cidaria russata, Selenia illunaria, Coremia ferrugata, C. 
propugnata, Melanthia ocellata, Ypsipetes elutata (a few black varieties), 
could always be beaten from the hedges. We also took single specimens 
of Ellopia fasciaria, Geometra paptilionaria, Metrocampa margaritaria, 
Uropteryx sambucaria, Melanippe procellata, Eupisteria heparata, Acidalia 
scutulata, and EH’pione apiciaria. During the daytime Phytometra @nea, 
Bombyx quercus, and Triphena interjecta were fairly common, but the last- 
named was in shocking condition. Sugaring proved quite futile until the 
last week, when the bait suddenly turned attractive, despite the rain and 
high wind, and brought a host of visitors, including Gonoptera libatrix, 
Cosmia affinis, C. diffinis, Noctua e-nigrum, N. plecta, N. rubi, Triphena 
orbona, T. interjecta, T. pronuba, T. tanthina, Amphipyra pyramidea, A. 
tragopogonis, Acronycta rumicis, Miana furuncula, Caradrina cubicularis, 
Agrotis puta, Oxylia putris, Luperina testacea, Cidaria russata, Hupithecia 
castigata, Camptogramma bilineata, Ypsipetes elutata. Of course Noctua 
xanthographa, Xylophasia polyodon, and Apamea oculea were very plenti- 
ful. The paucity of imagines was counterbalanced, however, by the quantity 
of various larve, especially of the common Cuspidates. Notodonta ziczac 
occurred in every stage of growth, both egg and full-grown larva appearing 
on the same tree; Ptilodontis palpina and Notodonta dictea were fairly 
abundant; Dicranura bifida (egg and two larvee), Smerinthus ocellatus and 
S. populi, with a sprinkling of Lobophora sexalisata and Amphidasys betu- 
laria, were also found on the poplars; Saturnia carpini, Thyatira batis, and 
Bombyx rubi frequented the low-lying brambles on the hills, while Melanippe 
galiata was tolerably common on the Galium mollugo.—C. M. WELLs ; 
Hurstfield, The Avenue, Gipsy Hill. 
Protective Contour or LorHoprerRyx cAMELINA.—The following is, 
I think, a rather remarkable instance of the instinctive power possessed 
by Lepidoptera of taking advantage of their surroundings for the sake of 
protection. On August 10th, last year, when on my way trout-fishing in 
South Wales, I had occasion to traverse a long lane bounded on one side 
principally by large sallow bushes. Interspersed amongst the foliage were 
many blighted or withered leaves of a deep red-brown colour. Noticing as 
I thought a slight peculiarity in one of them, on an overhanging branch, I 
found, on close examination, that it was a beautiful specimen of Lophopteryx 
camelina. So closely did it resemble the withered leaves in colour and form 
ut a little distance off, that it must have heen by the greatest chance it did 
not escape notice.—T. B. Jerrerys ; Bath, Feb. 5, 1892. 
