A VOICE FROM THE MINEHEAD VALLEY. 13 



list of my captures this month : — Hepialis velleda from the top of 

 the Quantocks, Nolo, cristulalis, Arctia menthastri, A. lubricipeda, 

 and Bombyx quercus. Nocture were scarce, and sugaring almost 

 useless : I took Acronycta rumicis, Axylia putris, Agrotis 

 porphyrea, Noctua plecta, and Dicranura furcula. Geometry 

 were more plentiful, some of those which I noticed being Iodis 

 lactearia, Acidalia fumata, Numeria pidveraria, Larentia pectini- 

 taria, Emmelesia affinitata, E. alchemillata, E. decolorata, Eupi- 

 thecia castigata, Ypsipetes ruberata, Melanippe unangulata, Eubolia 

 palumbaria, and Anaitis plagiaria. 



July proved a wet month in a decidedly rainy district ; hence 

 my list of captures and notes is limited, being as follows: — 

 Hepicdus hectus and H. lupulinus abundant everywhere ; Macro- 

 glossa stellatarum was common ; Etichelia jacobece, B. quercus. 

 Nocture were still scarce at sugar, Thyatira balls and Apamea 

 basilinea being among the few to put in an appearance. Of the 

 Geometrse I took Ourapteryx sambucata, A. aversata, Halia 

 wavaria, and C. fidvata. I also captured a few Crambus pine- 

 tellus and Botys urticata. 



Being from home nearly the whole of August, I can only 

 record B. quercus ,• and of the Noctuse, Hydroecia nictitans, 

 Neuria saponarice, Heliophobus hispida, Charceas graminis, and 

 Plusia iota. P. gamma has been a perfect plague throughout the 

 autumn. The Geometrse include S. illunaria and Y. elutata ; 

 and the Micros, C. ptinetellus. 



The best bit of hunting I have had at all this year was on the 

 evenings of from October 22nd to 25th, when I visited two 

 clumps of ivy covered thickly with blossom. The evenings were 

 still and very dark, but moths were feeding each night in plenty ; 

 and a pleasant time I had. I took Himera pennaria (two, at 

 light), Thera simidata, C. psittacata, C. miata. Of the Nocture, 

 Orthosia lota, 0. macilenta, Anchocelis lunosa, A. litura, Cerastis 

 sjjadicea, Scopelosoma satellitia (two varieties), Hoporina croceago, 

 Xanthia ferruginea, X. rhizolitha, and some others. 



In conclusion I may mention that B. rubi and Satumia 

 carpini are plentiful on the Quantock Hills, although I have not 

 succeeded in capturing either on the wing; so also is ■ Anarta 

 myrtilli on Will's Neck. One strange fact I may add, which is 

 that I have only seen one species of the genus Xanthia, although 

 sallows are so plentiful. 



Crowcombe Eectory, Tauuton, November 9, 1883. 



