LEPIDOPTEEA OP THE MACCLESFIELD DISTRICT. 269 



, ierved. They seem to be pecked out of their chambers, and 

 devoured by bh-ds when about half grown. 



Four species only of Noctu^ have been really common ; these 

 are XylopJiasia monoglypha {= polyodon), Miana fasciuncida, 

 Noctiia augur, and Triphceria pronnha ; on several occasions they 

 were the only moths that visited the sugar at all. The walls of 

 the district have frequently been examined for Bryophila perla, 

 but not a specimen could be found thereon ; in August last year 

 one example was found on the bare ground at Ludchurch, and 

 attention was then given to the rocks there, but no other speci- 

 men was seen. In September these walls produce Polia cJii in 

 some numbers, but the olive-grey form does not seem to occur. 

 A number of the larvfe of Acroiiycta menyanthidis were collected, 

 principally from sallow on the Moss, but only about five per cent, 

 of these attained the perfect state, although they all pupated 

 satisfactorily. The pupae were kept indoors ; probably it would 

 have been better to have left them in the garden, where the 

 larvae had been kept. All the examples are pale in colour, but 

 some have broad dark borders to fore wings. Leucania impura 

 and L. pcdlcns were the sole representatives of the genus noticed 

 in the district. The last-named was most abundant, and a good 

 proportion of the specimens seen were of the reddish form (var. 

 rufescens). Four distinct forms of Xylophasia rurea occur here 

 in the garden, i. e., the type ; a form with rather silvery ground 

 and fewer markings than the type ; and two unicolorous forms, 

 in one of which the colour is reddish-brown, and in the other 

 blackish-brown. This species did not come freely to sugar; most 

 of the examples taken were netted. As previously mentioned, 

 X. monoglypha occurs commonly, but it is rather surprising that 

 none of the specimens show any tendency towards melanism, 

 seeing that black forms of some other species, presently to be 

 referred to, are found here. Of Apamea didyma ( = ocidea) the 

 majority of the specimens are unicolorous brown or greyish-brown 

 in colour (var. nictitans), and only two of the white-spotted black 

 form (var. leucostigma) have occurred. Last year Miana arcuosa 

 was pretty common, but very few specimens have been seen here 

 this year. This species occurs in a field adjoining my garden. 



In 1894 I saw a good number of Gelcena haworthii flying over 

 the heather on the Moss, but they were difficult to capture. 

 Sugar did not seem to have any attraction for them. They flew 

 most freely about an hour before dusk. I examined heather- 

 bloom with a lamp, but without result so far as concerns this 

 species. I have not seen it this year. Only one specimen of 

 Grammesia trigrammica (= trilinea) has been noticed, and this 

 was an example of the var. hilinea. One Noctua glareosa was 

 found at rest on the ground among heather in the wood at the 

 back of the 'Wizard Inn,' Alderley Edge. Only one example of 

 N, brunnea has been seen, and this came to sugar on the edge of 



