TINEA SUBTILELLA, PUCHS. 163 



ochreous. Antennae, legs, and thorax pale ochreous, like fore-wings ; 

 body more the colour of hind-wings. 



This moth was first taken by Herr Fuchs on July 12th, 1878, 

 at Bornich in the Rhine district (Rheingau), on the walls of old 

 vineyards. He observes that to catch it with the net was not 

 difficult, but to see it in the net was not so easy, and in the attempt 

 to box it when in the net he lost many specimens. On cooler 

 evenings it was less active and sat quietly on the stone walls of the 

 vineyards, and was then more easily boxed. 



Probably, Herr Fuchs used a white net, in which it is most 

 difficult to see a small light-coloured moth, whereas I generally use 

 a green net, which makes the boxing an easier matter ; my difficulty 

 was to catch it in the net. 



This is the smallest of six species which Mr. Stainton tells me 

 that Herr Fuchs found on the vineyard walls. Four of these have 

 not yet been detected in Britain, and the remaining species, Tinea 

 nigripuncteUa, which Fuchs took in plenty, is rare with us. I once 

 took one in a stable at Portland, but have never seen any more 

 specimens, so that it would appear as if this species was not there 

 associated with stones or walls. It is most often, I believe, found 

 in outhouses, but I do not think that the larva is known. It would 

 be interesting if it were to turn up amongst the stones at Portland, 

 especially if accompanied by any of Herr Fuchs' four other species. 

 This genus is very uncertain in its appearance, and amongst our 

 British species are several very rare ones, some of which are, so far 

 as I am aware, only known in this country by the simultaneous 

 capture of a few specimens. It is therefore by no means unlikely 

 that others are still to be found, in spite of the immense number of 

 collectors that are now spread all over the country, and I hope that 

 the ensuing season may shew that the resources of Portland are not 

 yet exhausted, though so-called civilization is doing its best to 

 destroy the insects by making a new railway, and the collectors of 

 them, by the establishment of a new rifle range at which rifles are 

 used which, I am told, carry two miles, the shooting with which 

 takes place straight along the undercliff. 



