a week's collecting in unst. 199 



found fluttering. The males flew freely throughout the night, 

 and even in broad sunshine in the early morning, a fact which I 

 wish we had discovered one day earlier than we did. M. fluctuata 

 was nearly over ; but the few specimens we saw were very large 

 and dusky. The strange form Eupithecia nanata (?) still lingered 

 on amongst the heather, but were very worn. 



Sugaring was fairly successful, although, from the flight of 

 the Nocture being limited to a couple of hours, one was at first 

 induced by the broad twilight to put off visiting the sugar until 

 too late. Hadena adusta in grand variety was common ; as also 

 were Agrotis suffusa, A. porphyrea, and Noctua conflua. Of 

 Mamestra brassicce and M.furva one specimen of each was taken 

 at sugar ; a second specimen of the latter, with one Dianthcecia 

 conspersa and one Stenopteryx hybridalis, being the sole results of 

 a night wasted at Silene flowers. Triphcena pronuba was common, 

 and, as usual, pugnacious, driving off the better species. Athough 

 they varied greatly, yet there was little by which to distinguish 

 them from southern specimens. A most unexpected species was 

 T. subsequa, two specimens of which were taken. Of Mamestra 

 oleracea and Apamea ocidea a few specimens were captured, 

 including a nice variety of the latter. Plasia gamma was common 

 on the wing at ragged-robin and other flowers. Neither Crymodes 

 exidis nor Pachnobia hyperborea were out, which was a great 

 disappointment to us. 



The Pyralidse were but scantily represented. Herbida cespitalis 

 was common, but worn; S. hybridalis was to be found occasion- 

 ally ; while of the Scoparise, S. atomalis was common on a hill- 

 side, S. coarctalis occurred at the door-step of our lodgings, and 

 S. pallidulalis turned up at a bog. 



Of the Crainbidse, Crambus pratellus was common ; C. hor- 

 tuellus, C. pascuellus, and C. perlellus more rare ; while C. cul- 

 mellus was most abundant. Of the latter species a fine dark 

 variety occurred that almost raised hopes of a novelty. 



Of the Tortrices, Mixodia schidziana was common among 

 heath ; Sericoris lacunana and Clepsis rusticana on hill-sides ; 

 and Bactra lanceolana in marshes. We also noticed a few 

 Phoxopteryx unguicana and Eupcecilia ruficiliana ; one Orthotcenia 

 antiquana was disturbed from a turf-wall; while a few large and 

 dark Xylopoda fabriciana and Sericoris littorana, which was just 

 coming out, completed the list. In searching among thrift for 



