CAPTURE OF NOCTURNAL LEPIDOPTERA. 



f207 



The result of this year disappointed my expectations. I 

 had previously calculated upon a more bountiful harvest : 

 however, sportsman-like, I attributed this to a bad breeding 

 season, — to that mysterious Power which regulates and governs 

 the number and irregular appearance of insects. 



The long continuance of fine beautiful weather in the spring, 

 summer, and autumn of 1833, induced me to expect a highly 

 favourable season for autumnal moths, and for bringing the 

 fruit of the yew-trees earlier to perfection. I determined once 

 more to examine this interesting habitat, and commenced 

 operations on the same night as in the preceding year (10th of 

 October). I found abundance of moths enjoying, as usual, 

 their favourite repast. The fruit was perfectly ripe, and the 

 yew-trees beautifully adorned with fine large berries in the 

 richest profusion ; I lamented that I had not been enabled to 

 arrive sooner, from an idea that several species of the early 

 autumnal moths must have disappeared. I commenced by 

 devoting, on an average, five hours every night for twenty- 

 eight nights, from the 10th of October until the 14th of 

 November. I was highly gratified, and amply repaid for my 

 exertions, by the capture of upwards of two thousand moths. 

 I boxed, on the average, eighty insects per night, of the follow- 

 ing species : — 



Specimens. 

 . . 5 

 . plentiful 



Agrotis 

 aequa . 

 sufFusa 



Orthosia 

 litura . 

 Pistacina 

 Lota . 

 flavilinea 

 macilenta 



Glsea 



rubiginea 



satellitia 



vaccinii 



spadicea 



subnigra 



. . plentiful 



. . ditto 

 . .abundant 

 . . plentiful 

 very abundant 

 . , abundant 



very abundant 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 . plentiful 



polita abundant 



Xylina 



semibrunnea . 

 rhizolitha . 

 Calocampa exoleta 

 Miselia 



Oxyacanthse . 



. 3 



plentiful 



plentiful 



Miselia Aprilina. 

 Polia seladonia . 

 Xanthia 



aurago . . . 



citrago . . . 



croceago . 



rufina . . 

 Phlogophora 



meticulosa 



ditto 



abundant 



Hybernia connectaria $ plentiful 

 Himera pennaria ... 1 

 Euthalia 



miata 3 



plentiful 



. 3 



plentiful 



ditto 



. 1 



6 



Psittacata 

 Thera variata . . 

 Oporabia dilutata . 

 Cheimatobia brumata 

 Margaritia ferrugalis 



Sarrothripus degeneranus 

 Oncomera PodagrariBe . 



