A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



other record, but it will be found all along the coast. It comes freely to campion flowers. 

 M. furva has occurred in small numbers, at campion flowers, along the coast. M. hrasslca:, 

 of course, is abundant everywhere. M. persicaria is very rare, one or two only having been 

 taken at sugar at Ryhope, Durham, and Bishop Auckland. Apamea basillnea is generally 

 plentiful, as is A. gemma and the variety remhsa. A. unanimis is generally distributed, but not 

 often plentiful. A. ophiogramma was once recorded from Hartlepool. A. fibrosa was taken in 

 1875, which was a very marvellous year for Icpidoptera at sugar, but it has not been seen since. 

 A. oculea is always abundant. The black variety only occurs now. Fifty years ago light forms 

 were commonest. All the genus M'lana occur, striglUs, fasciuncula, literosa, a.nd furuncu/a are 

 common. Expolita has been taken freely at Darlington and Hartlepool. It probably occurs 

 elsewhere, but it is not easy to find unless its habits are known. M. arcuosa is not very rare ; 

 it occurs in grassy places. Celana haworthVi is common on the moors in the west. Grammesla 

 trilinea, though generally plentiful, is very rare in Durham. It has been taken once or twice 

 on the Derwent, and once only at Hartlepool. Caradrina morphem is not uncommon on the 

 coast, but it is not recorded elsewhere. C. blanda is scarcer, and has only been taken at 

 Darlington and Hartlepool. C cubkularh is abundant everywhere. Rusina tenebrosa rather 

 common in most places. Agrotis valUgera plentiful on the coast. A. suffusa is neither common 

 nor well distributed. It occurs sparingly on the coast, and has been taken at Bishop Auckland. 

 A. saucia has only been twice taken at Bishop Auckland. A. segctum and exclamationis are both 

 common everywhere. A. corticea appears numerously at Bishop Auckland, but not elsewhere. 

 A. cursoria is a coast species, much rarer now than fifty years ago. A. nigricans general in the 

 county, and far from uncommon. A. tritici, another coast insect, and generally abundant. 

 A. agathina rare on the moors. A. porphyrea is another moorland species, but much more 

 abundant, occurring where there is very little heather. A. pracox has been twice met with 

 at South Shields. A. ravida occurs on the coast, but is never very plentiful. Axylia putris is 

 exceedingly rare, only four specimens, all taken in the west of the county, having been recorded. 

 Triphana fimbria is rather scarce, but appears to occur in most places. T, janthina seems to 

 be a garden insect in Durham. It is well distributed, but never plentiful, T. interjecta occurs 

 in August on Hartlepool sand hills, which appear to be the northern limit of its range. 

 T. orbona is common everywhere. T. pronuha is also common everywhere and very variable. 

 Noctua glareosa is found all over the county, but it is scarce near the sea. "N. augur, p/ecta, and 

 c.-nigrum are all abundant. A^. depuncta occurs at Bishop Auckland, and has been taken in 

 Hesleden Dene ; it is a rare insect. N. iriangiihan is widely distributed, but, perhaps, is only 

 a wanderer. It is generally a common insect, but here has only occurred singly. N. hrunnca 

 is well distributed, occurring at edges of woods and open places. A^. /estiva is common, and 

 the variety conflua is equally plentiful on the moors. N. rubi is widely spread, but never 

 common ; it appears rarest near the coast. A^. umbrosa and baja are fairly well distributed, 

 and generally plentiful, but not always. A'', xanthographa is always much too numerous. 

 Trachea piniperda, in pine woods, generally distributed, but not very common. Tanio- 

 campa gothica, abundant everywhere and wonderfully variable. 1. Icticographa is only 

 recorded by one collector, who says it is decidedly scarce. T. rubricosa is generally 

 common and well spread. T. instabilis is plentiful everywhere and very variable. T. opiyna 

 has been taken at Darlington once, but occurs regularly about Hartlepool — never common, 

 but a few each year. T. popuhti is very scarce. T. stabilis is the most abundant of the 

 genus, always plentiful everywhere. T. gracilis is common at Hartlepool, and has been 

 taken once or twice in the west. T, munda is recorded from Hartlepool only, where it is 

 very rare. 7". cruda is generally common, but does not appear to associate much with the 

 other members of the genus. Orthosia suspecta is very scarce and local. In occurs in Hesleden 

 Dene. 0. ypsilon has occurred in Tccsdale and Hartlepool, but very seldom. O. lota is more 

 generally distributed, but never abundant. O. macilcnta is tolerably common, except on the 

 coast, where it is never seen. Anchocelis rufina is well spread over the county, but has not 

 often been recorded. A. pistacina also occurs sparingly in most places. A. lunosa is very 

 scarce and has only occurred singly. Cerastis vaccinii and spadicea are generally plentiful, but 

 not common on the coast. Scopclosoma satcllitia, common generally in autumn, not often seen 

 in spring. Xanthia citrago occurs in the neighbourhood of Durham only. X. cerago and 

 silago arc common in autumn, and fcrruginca appears everywhere, though not so plentiful as 

 the other two. Cirradia xerampelina occurs occasionally, but lias not yet been taken more 

 than once at any place. Tethca subtusa is very rare, and has only been met with at Darlington 

 and near Harilejiooi. Cosmia trapczina is common and well distributed, least plentiful near 

 the sea. 6'. diffinls was taken in 1898 near Hartlepool by Mr. Gardner — one specimen only. 



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