94 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



posts or trees were available, sugar was applied to the flowers of thistles 

 with good effect. By this method swarms of common Agrotidse were 

 attracted, especially A. tridci, and Geoinetrae, particularly Melanippe 

 galiata, were common. Among other insects taken in this way were 

 A. suffusa, A. exclamationis, A. lunigera (two), A. se^e^Mw. (numerous), and 

 A. pracox (two beauiies). Noctua c-nigrum, N. baia, N. ximhrosa, and 

 numerous Apameas which hung about vory late. The most abundant 

 insect durin" the day was Macroglossa stellatanim, which swarmed every- 

 where. Many came into the house and were captured on the window- 

 frames and many more were released. I remember counting fifteen of 

 them, hovering over a strip of valerian on the roadside leading down into 

 Boscastle. Only one specimen of CoUas edusa was seen, but other butter- 

 flies were verv plentiful ; indeed, I never remember having seen so many 

 in one dav as'l did on Aug. 13th, on the road between Bude and Morweu- 

 stow. Gonopteryx rharnniw&s, abundant, and Argynnis paphia was still in 

 aood condition. The common Vanessse, and especially V. atalanta, 

 swarmed. I also noticed several specimens of Zygcena JilipenduloR flying 

 on the Bude sandhills during the early part of August. The weather 

 throughout this month was remarkably fine and hot. 



Having returned to Reading in September, I resumed collecting in 

 that district, The autumn butterflies were plentiful, as was also Macro- 

 glossa stellatarum. No sugaring was done in the autumn, but attention 

 was paid to the ivy-bloom. Insects were extremely scarce, owing to cold 

 fogoy nights. The only moth which was at all common was the ever- 

 present FhlogopJiora meticulosa, while Cerastis vaccinii came next. Vanessa 

 atalanta was on the wing as late as Nov. 5th, and about this date swarms 

 of Cheimatobia brumata and Hybemia defoliaria made their appearance in 

 the orchard at night. These moths appear to defy cold, and may be seen 

 flvinc freely anv frosty night. No more insects were captured during the 

 year. It will thus be seen that on the whole the season did not produce 

 much here, though I have heard of others who had better luck. — E. T. B. 

 Reece. 



LARViE-BEATiNG IN 1899 COMPARED WITH 1898. — It may be interesting 

 to lepidopterists living in the London district, and who use the beating- 

 tray, to compare the following rough notes on the past two years with their 

 own experiences. Speaking generally, 1899 must be considered, if not 

 better, at least an equal of its predecessor. The localities visited were, with 

 the exception of a iew days spent m the New Forest, within the twelve 

 mile radius. Halias quercana was scarcer in the generally worked 

 localities, but in a favourite haunt, which I believe is little known and less 

 worked, it was quite as abundant as in 1898, being as usual attended with 

 many common larvae. Thecla betula;, which in the former year had been 

 exceedujgly scarce (only four larvae being taken], was decidedly plentiful, 

 during four or five excursions upwards of four dozen falling to the tray ; 

 the first day, June 10th (when the larvae were very small), being the most 

 successful. ' T. qiiercus was more plentiful in the New Forest during the 

 past year, but larvae of this species very few and far i)etween in the London 

 district. Liparis monacha, Bombyx neustria, Trichiura cratagi, Amphi- 

 dasys betularia, Odontopera bidentata, and Cleora Uchenaria were scarcer 

 than in 1898 ; the latter of course really requires searching for. Diloba 

 ccB'ruleocephala, I^otodonta camellna, Miselia oxyacanthcB, Himera pennaria, 

 Uropteryx sambucata, Crocallis elinguaria, Selenia lunaria, S. Ulunaria, 



