220 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



occurring in several Englisli counties, is always esteemed a 

 rarity ; and the capture of ten full-grown larvse in the course 

 of a few days' beating was considered more than ordinary 

 luck. This caterpillar measures about three inches in 

 length, and the prevailing colour is apple green becoming 

 slightly glaucous on the dorsal surface. There are two 

 approximate pale yellow stripes along the back, and the 

 sides are ornamented with a series of conspicuous oblique 

 stripes of a pink colour. A peculiarity of these lateral 

 stripes is that they slope from the anterior part of the 

 segments backwards, which is just the reverse of what 

 occurs on the Hawk-moth larvae. Half a dozen larvae of 

 N. chamiia, another widely distributed but rare insect, were 

 also captured by beating oaks. The general colour of this 

 caterpillar is pale blue-green, sometimes approaching to 

 glaucous. There are two narrow yellow stripes on the dorsal 

 surface, and along each side there is also a yellow stripe 

 which dilates at each spiracle. Both the N. tre^nda and 

 N. chaonia larvae yielded fine moths in the spring. Larvae 

 of N. dodoncea were also obtained. 



Noctum. — This large group appeared to be very sparingly 

 represented during the month; at all events treacling — by 

 which large numbers are usually captured — was singularly 

 unproductive. This, however, might be in great measure 

 owing to the abundance of honeysuckle, bramble, and other 

 blossom in the woods at that season. During the end of 

 June and the first week in July, numbers of Di;phthera Oriooi 

 and Leucania turca had been taken, but by the time the 

 writer commenced treacKng they were nearly over, and a 

 few only were obtained. The most frequent visitor to the 

 sweet mixture was Tlvijatira hatis, with an occasional T. 

 derasa, Gonoptcra lihatrix, etc. Amphipyra pyramidea put in 

 an abundant appearance the last night treacling was tried. 

 On the 28th July the writer had the satisfaction of taldng 

 the extraordinary larvae of Acronycta Ahii — one of the rarest 

 of our indigenous Noctum. A good many appeared to have 

 been taken about the same time, and a local collector w^as 

 subsequently selling the pupie at 10s. each. This caterpillar 

 is very striking in appearance, and quite unlike any other 



