86 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



isogrammata was common in a garden at Stamford Hill, where it has been 

 breeding for years past on a clematis-covered summer-house ; and a few odd 

 things came to light at Crouch End towards the end of July, including 

 Eupithecia suhfulvata and Dianthcecia capsincola ; but on July 19th I ran 

 down to Benfleet for Hesperia lineola. After taking one in an hour and a 

 half, rain coming on in torrents prevented any further search, but from the 

 specimen I took evidently being just out, I should imagine it was too early, 

 although many were worn three days earlier in 1892. 



The following day was spent at Darenth Wood, but the wood itself 

 seemed most strikingly empty. One Thecla quercus was seen, Epinephele 

 hyperanthes fairly common, a few Hesperia sylvcmus, &o., but common 

 moths of every kind seemed almost absent. The only thing worth having 

 was a fine fresh Acronycta leporhia, at rest on a brake — surely very late for 

 the species. The neighbouring lanes, however, were in great contrast with 

 the wood, the hedges, and especially the clematis, being full of Geometers. 

 A large majority of the specimens beaten out were various small Acidalias, 

 the best of them being A. rusticata ; plenty of other species also turned up, 

 including lodis vernaria (3), Ligdia adustata, Etqnthecia isogrammata, 

 Melanippe proceUata, Scotosia rhamnata, and TriphcEna ianthina (common). 

 All this time treacle had been a dead failure ; but on July 27th, at 

 Darenth Wood again, it began to look up. Starting from Dartford, I again 

 beat out lodis vernaria, Ligdia adustata, E. isogrammata, and 8. rhamnata 

 (the latter fairly common); and in addition, Acidalia imitaria, Strenia 

 clathrata (abundant in the clover-fields), Phibalapteryx vitalhata, Agrotis 

 nigricans, Triplmna interjecta, and Platyp)teryx falcida in the wood ; 

 Pyrameis cardui was seen at intervals, with a couple of Gonopteryx rhamni, 

 and a number of Bombyx quercus males ; Leucoma salicis was found in a 

 hedge in Dartford ; a single Boarinia ahletaria on a fence on the common ; 

 whilst Angerona j^runaria and Acidalia emarginata were netted at dusk. 

 At treacle pretty well everything that came at all came the first round. 

 There was a fair variety, the best being Leucania lithargyria, Caradrina 

 hlanda, Rusina tenebrosa (worn), Agrotis nigricans, A. tritici, and Orthosia 

 suspecta. This in itself was not much, but it gave a promise of better 

 things, to be fulfilled in the course of a day or two when, treacling at 

 Hailsham (Aug. 1st and 2nd), moths, mostly common, literally swarmed. 

 The best captures, perhaps, were a grand series of Cosmia trapezina, which 

 was by far the commonest moth and in endless variety, and a smaller but 

 equally variable one of Apamea oculea ; CalUgenia viiuiata and Halias 

 quercana occurred singly, the vivid green of the latter when seen in the 

 lamp-light for the first time being rather startling. Other insects to turn 

 up were Leucania conigera, L. lithargyria, L. comma, Hydrcecia nictitans, 

 Miana literosa, Caradrina blanda, Agrotis suffusa, Noctua plecta, N. dahlii, 

 N. baia, Cosmia affinis, Amphipyra pyramidea. Mania maura, and a good 

 number of Hypsipetes elutata (the only Geometer). 



Excessive rain and the condition of the woods prevented any day work, 

 except a morning on the Polegate Downs on Aug. 3rd. There was a high 

 wind, and the only butterflies to brave it were vast numbers of Satyrus 

 semele; in all the sheltered hollows Lyccena corydon and Eubolia bipunctata 

 swarmed, with occasional Argynnis aglaia and Melanippe galiata, Hesperia 

 liyiea occurrit)g rather locally. On the two previous mornings male 

 Bombyx quercus were commonly to be seen on the wing, apparently indif. 

 ferent to wind and heavy rain. 



Just at this time treacle seemed to be attractive in the London district, 



