INSECTS 



the larva feeding upon sow-thistle ; the 

 moth visiting flowers in gardens in the 

 summer 



Plusia chrysitis, Linn. (Burnished Brass Moth). 

 Halton, Chesham, Chalfont St. Peter, 

 Buckingham, High Wycombe ; probably 

 generally distributed in lanes and gardens 



pulchrina, Haw. ; v-aureum, Gn. Only 



noticed at Chesham and in the Chi/tern 

 district 



iota, Linn. (Golden 7). Ha/ton, Ches- 



ham, Chalfont St. Peter, Taplow, Buck- 

 ingham, High Wycombe and the Chiltern 

 district ; widely distributed, frequenting 

 gardens and lanes 



gamma, Linn. (Silver 7). Abundant 



everywhere, but the larva is by no 

 means so common. There is reason 

 to believe that vast migrations of this 

 moth take place now and then from 

 the continent 



Habrostola urticae, Hb. ; tripartita, St.C. 

 Buckingham, Chalfont St. Peter, Ches- 

 ham, Ha/ton ; usually taken hovering 

 at flowers, or its larva upon nettles 



triplasia, Linn. Buckingham, Halton, at 



flowers, often in gardens ; High Wycombe 

 at the electric light 



Heliodes arbuti, Fab. ; tenebrata, St.C. Hal- 

 ton, Buckingham ; common in the sunny 

 corners of meadows 



Erastria fuscula, Bkh.; fasciana, St.C. Taken 

 near Chalfont St. Peter by the Rev. 

 J. S. St. John 



Bryophila perla, Fab. Generally common, 

 sitting upon walls ; its larva feeding on 

 the minute wall lichens at night, hiding 

 itself in a chamber in an interstice in 

 the wall by day 



Phytometraaenea, Hb.; viridaria, St.C. Com- 

 mon at Halton and in the Chiltern dis- 

 trict in rides of woods 



Anarta myrtilli, Linn. Black Park ; taken 

 flying swiftly over heather in the sun- 

 shine 



Gonoptera libatrix, Linn. (Herald Moth). 

 Generally distributed but not very 

 common, hiding during the winter in 

 houses or under roofs of outhouses 



Catocala fraxini, Linn. (Clifden Beauty). The 

 Rev. J. Greene refers to a rumour or 

 statement that a specimen of this noble 

 insect had been either captured or 

 reared by Mr. W. E. Parsons of Ayles- 

 bury. This statement does not seem to 

 have been confirmed or contradicted 



nupta, Linn. (Red Underwing). Bucking- 



ham, Chalfont St. Peter, Chesham, High 

 Wycombe, Black Park, about willows. 

 This noble moth forms a great brown 



triangular figure as it sits on a tree 

 trunk, or occasionally on a wall ; the 

 development as it opens its brilliant red 

 hind wings in flight is somewhat start- 

 ling 

 Catocala sponsa, Linn.l (the Crimson Under- 



promissa, Esp. /wings). Both these 



beautiful species were captured in Black 

 Park by the late Mr. Samuel Stevens 

 in the year 1 844, but neither appears to 

 have been seen in the county since 

 that date. Both abound in certain 

 years in the New Forest, Hants 

 Euclidia glyphica, Linn. Widely distributed 

 in flowery pastures and meadows and 

 on railway embankments 



mi, Clerck. Even more generally distri- 



buted in similar places 



Aventia flexula, Schiff. Taken occasionally 

 at Halton by the Rev. J. Greene, at 

 Black Park by the late Mr. S. Stevens, 

 and near Leckhampstead on the borders 

 of Whittlebury Forest by the Rev. C. F. 

 Thornewill. An uncommon species, 

 usually found in old lichen-covered crab 

 and thorn trees 



Herminia barbalis, Linn. Black Park, Mar- 

 low ; in woods among sallow 



grisealis, Hb. Amersham 

 Hypenodes albistrigalis, Gn. Marlow 



costaestrigalis, Steph. Black Park. It is 



probable that both these small and in- 

 significant looking species are frequently 

 overlooked 



Hypena rostralis, Linn. Marlow ; among 

 hop 



Brephos notha, Hb. The capture of a single 

 specimen near Buckingham is recorded 

 by Mr. W. Slade 



Ourapteryx sambucata, Linn. (Swallow-tail 

 Moth). This fine geometra moth is 

 common throughout the county, and is 

 very conspicuous as it flies wildly along 

 hedges at dusk. Its larva often feeds 

 on ivy 



Angerona prunaria, Linn. (Orange Moth). 

 Black Park, and also on the borders of 

 Whittlebury Forest. A conspicuous and 

 handsome species, its male dancing 

 vigorously at dusk along the rides and 

 through the openings of the woods ; its 

 female flying later at night 



Rumia cratasgata, Linn. ; luteolata, St.C. 

 (Brimstone Moth). Abundant every- 

 where about hawthorn hedges 



Venilia maculata, Linn. Chalfont St. Peter ; 

 local, flying in woods in the sunshine 



Cabera pusaria, Linn. This pretty snowy- 

 white moth is common in woods among 

 sallow and alder 



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