BOMB YCID^. 3» 



themselves among the vegetation, so as utterly to destroy 

 their beauty. On one occasion I saw a somewhat different 

 gathering. The wind was blowing a stiff gale right along the 

 ridge of one of the highest hills of Hindhead, but the weather 

 was fine and the sun shining brightly. At one end this hill 

 is suddenly cut off by a steep hollow sweep down two hundred 

 or three hundred feet, with a breadth of perhaps two hundred 

 yards. In this hollow, which was in some degree of shelter, 

 all the male moths of this species in the district appeared 

 to be congregated, flying wildly about. For some reason 

 unknown, they desired to pass over the ridge, and all were 

 beating from side to side up the steep hollow to the top, then, 

 trying to pass, were instantly carried by the furious gale far 

 back over the valley and so tumbled ignominiously down, to 

 renew the strife with the same ill success. There were 

 certainly scores, perhaps hundreds. I struggled to the summit, 

 and searched as closely as possible, in so fierce a storm of wind 

 that I could not stand upright, but no female moth could be 

 found, nor any place in which one could well shelter, for a long 

 distance, nor did the male moths appear attracted towards 

 any particular spot, their object was to get over the hill, no 

 matter where, but their efforts were not, I fear, effective tliat 

 day ! The female flies probably but little, never before dusk, 

 but possibly at night, though its flight is rarely observed. 



Common in well-wooded and heath districts all over England 

 and Scotland, including the Orkneys and Hebrides. In the 

 Orkneys Mr. Arthur Home has found the larva in abun- 

 dance. Apparently not extending to Shetland, and not com- 

 mon in the Edinburgh and Fifeshire district. In Aberdeen- 

 shire, where it was formerly common, Mr. W. Reid finds that 

 it is becoming scarce in consequence of the attentions of the 

 black -headed gulls. Found in suitable places in most parts 

 of Ireland, often commonly, both pale and dark forms being 

 obtained, the latter the more plentifully, but the pale form 

 has been reared by Mr. C. A. Watts from larviB found near 

 Belfast, of which the pupae remained unchanged through the 



