EE 
LEPIDOPTERA IN RELATION TO FLOWERS. 365 
expeditions, I have repeatedly observed Apamea oculea, Linn., 
lying on the flowers in a helpless state of intoxication. 
Among plants which are very attractive to Noctue the most 
noteworthy are the Ivy, Sallow, Field Thistle, and Ragwort. 
Moths which have been sucking the juices of any of these flowers 
for any length of time are unable to fly, and simply tumble over 
when touched. It is probable that more species of insects have 
been recorded as occurring at the Ragwort (Senecio Jacobea, Linn.), 
than at any other plant in the British Flora, and I will only 
mention a few of the species I have observed myself — Agrotis 
vestigialis, Hufn.; A. tritici, Linn.; A. segetuwm, Schiff. ; Miana 
bicoloria, Vill.; M. fasciuncula, Haw.; WM. literosa, Haw. ; 
Hydrecia micacea, Esp. ; H. nictitans, Bork. ; Chareas graminis, 
Linn. ; Caradrina quadripunctata, Fb.; and Triphena fimbria, 
Linn. On the other hand, the more showy Senecio aquaticus, 
Huds., does not seem to attract Moths at all. 
It is possible that a plant of Ragwort or Field Thistle may 
occasionally receive the pollen of another individual, but from the 
habits of the insects frequenting these plants it is almost certain 
that pollination is effected mostly between the separate florets of 
the flower-head. Neither Bee nor Moth will leave the heads of 
either plant till every floret has been probed, and it usually 
happens, especially with the Moths, that the visitor is unable to 
proceed further. 
Cnicus arvensis, Hoffm., is much more popular by day than by 
night, and it is much sought after by such species as Celena 
Haworthii, Curt., Viana fasciuncula, Haw., Hydrecia nictitans, 
Linn., and Chareas graminis, Linn. I have likewise taken 
Cidaria pyraliata, Bork., on thistle-heads, but the Geometer 
carries his wine better and keeps his head. Scabiosa succisa, 
Linn., and Centawrea nigra, Linn., are well looked after by Plusia 
gamma, Linn., and the heads of the Centaurea are often quite 
covered by one of the Pyralides (Scopula Jutealis, Haw.), some- 
times accompanied by a nearly-allied species, Pionea forficalis, 
Linn. Thymus Serpyllum, Fr., is productive of Noctue after 
dark. I have obtained in this way Aylia putris, Linn., and 
Miana literosa, Haw. 
In placing the Nettle in the list of flowers attractive to Moths, 
I have marked it with a point of interrogation. But there can 
