NOTES ON THE EARLY PART OF SEASON. 205 
beating for larve, which proved no more interesting and profitable 
than “‘sugaring” and general night-work. The only Geometre 
that we met with in the daytime were Acidalia immutata and 
Minoa euphorbiata, which, with a few Pyralides and Tortrices, 
were all we could show for four days’ collecting. Under these 
circumstances we thought it well to turn our attention to the 
heaths and bogs; so starting early in the evening, with one of the 
latter in view, we strolled across the heath, and in doing so we 
found that it produced a short series each of Selidosema plumaria 
and Acidalia straminata ; also a few Hupithecia nanata, Lithosia 
mesomella, and one Gnophos obscurata. Upon reaching the bog 
we waited for sunset, when we were fully employed in taking a 
number of Acidalia emutaria, an insect very easy to secure if it 
were not for the fact that one had to wade through a foot of mud 
and water to get at it. We also found Hydrocampa nymphealis 
and Schenobius forficellus flying in profusion, and a few Nudaria 
senex and Schrankia turfosalis, which, with some Tortrices and 
Scoparie, kept us quite lively till darkness set in. We then lighted 
our lamps, but as they only proved the means of inducing some 
New Forest ponies to pay us a visit, we left the latter masters 
of the situation, and went home for once with all our boxes 
occupied. 
After returning to New Malden I was much interested to 
ascertain if things were as common at “sugar” and on the wing 
as when I left. This I found to be the case, and may mention 
that among my first captures were Apamea ophiogramma, 
Triphena jfimbria, and along series of Canobia rufa; the last 
named I have not seen in this district before, although I have 
worked it for many years. 
In concluding these notes I ought to mention that the 
horticulturist during the past spring has enjoyed quite an 
immunity from many insect pests, which in some measure 
compensates for the disappointment sustained by the ento- 
mologist in not being able to enrich the drawers of his cabinet. 
New Malden, Surrey, August 10, 1883. 
