OF CHAR.EAS GRAMINIS. 201 



thus affording another instance of indirect advantages derived 

 from insects. 



Another very remarkable fact, illustrative of the natural 

 habits of this moth, fell beneath my observation in the begin- 

 ning of August, 1831. I was staying at Meldon Park, on an 

 entomological excursion, and, by chance, one morning visited 

 some old pastures about a mile from that place ; this was 

 about eight o'clock ; and my astonishment was very great to 

 find the fields swarming with moths upon the wing, I managed 

 to capture one with my hat, having neglected to take out my net, 

 and was delighted to find it was the above Noctua, of which I 

 had only captured an occasional specimen or two, flying amongst 

 thistles in the middle of the day. I returned to breakfast, 

 fully calculating on getting an ample supply during the fore- 

 noon. Accordingly, big with expectation, and completely 

 prepared for the onslaught, I reached the spot about ten 

 o'clock; and if my first surprise on beholding the countless 

 myriads on my morning walk was great, it was not less so on 

 my return, to find that in the same place where, not three 

 hours before, I could scarce step without treading on them, a 

 single specimen was all that rewarded my incessant search for 

 some hours, over the space of at least one hundred and fifty 

 acres. Chagrined at my ill-luck, I determined that the peep 

 of the morrow's dawn should find me prepared to profit by the 

 experience of that day ; and accordingly, taking an assistant 

 with me, we reached the place early ; but not a moth was to 

 be seen. The wind had changed to the east, and the drifting 

 mist threatened to end in rain ; and having fixed that day for 

 my return to Newcastle, I felt somewhat disappointed, and 

 wandered over the ground in the hopes that some single speci- 

 men might venture forth, but in vain ; not a solitary moth was 

 to be seen. Despairing of success, and wet and uncomfort- 

 able, from the heavy dew on the grass and moist fog over 

 head, about half-after seven I was about to return, when sud- 

 denly the whole field, as far as the eye could reach, was once 

 more the scene of their gambols. Struck with the suddenness 

 of their reappearance, and rejoicing at their unexpected return, 

 I put Horace's truly entomological recommendation — 



" Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero" — 



into force. And now the difficulty was, not where to find a 



NO. II. VOL. I. D D 



