27 
Some Experiences in Doth Hunting. 
By THE Rev. C. F. THornewiiy, M.A., F.ES, 
READ BEFORE THE SocIETY, APRIL 18th, 1901. 
[ ABSTRACT. | 
) AVING collected Moths and Butterflies for between 20 and 30 
years, and been in many parts of the country in quest of them, 
I will put before you some of the chief facts I have noticed. 
It is very curious how erratic Moths and Butterflies are in appear- 
ance. The same insect may be very common one year, while hardly 
seen atallanother year. In 1899 the ‘‘ Humming Bird Hawk” was 
swarming everywhere. Five were taken in my garden that year, 
whereas there was only one in the previous four years. The same thing 
was observed with the “‘ Red Admiral” Butterfly, generally not so com- 
mon as the “ Tortoiseshell,” but in 1899 and 1900 it was much more 
so. In the latter year 25 were taken in my garden one morning. The 
‘Red Admiral” shows great fondness for privet blossom as well as 
fallen fruit, especially plums. I have never yet seen the caterpillar 
of the “ Red Admiral.” The “Clouded Yellow” is another striking 
example of erratic appeararce, generally anything but common, but 
now and then, as in 1900, very abundant, many having been seen 
where usually there were only a few, and in some numbers where 
usually it was not seen at all. 
Early in September 1876, at Torquay, this butterfly and the 
“ Painted Lady” (equally erratic) were flying about the Red 
Valerian: I took 50 specimens, and have never seen the insect 
since until last year. A similar thing happened in the Summer of 1899 
