264 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



as this district appears to have been very httle investigated from the 

 entomological point of view the following notes may be of interest : — 

 In the way of captures the most noteworthy species were : P. in- 

 terrogationis, N. castanea, N. glareosa, E. liUidenta (a melanic form), 

 and <S'. anotnala. N. ditrapezium, taken at light, adds another Scottish 

 locality for this species. In addition to the common and widely 

 occurring Geometers, the following were taken : D. ohfmcaria, 

 L. salicata, Eiq). exjKillidata, E. castigata, E. nanata, and E. cen- 

 taureata (oblongata). As Vanessa atalanta was so abundant last 

 autumn in the southern counties, it may be recorded that this 

 butterfly was also common in the north this year, every nettle-bed 

 examined furnishing the larva of this species and of V. urticce in 

 profusion. Special attention was paid to the bog-myrtle, which 

 grows abundantly in all the marshy hollows in the moorland districts 

 about Onich. The first point noted was that the larva of Iladena 

 irisi prefers this plant to broOm. The latter also grows luxuriantly 

 on the drier parts of the moors, but no H. insi larvse were ever seen 

 or beaten from it ; they were quite common on Myrica on which 

 they fed freely in confinement in preference to broom supplied at the 

 same time. The larva of A. menyanthidis occurred also commonly, 

 and a number fed upon Myrica have now pupated in the breeding- 

 cage. The larva of M. hastata occurred sparingly, and generally 

 ichneumoned. On the same plant the larva of P. Upsiana was 

 abundant, but the majority were ichneumoned, and a small percen- 

 tage only emerged as imagos in September and October. The food- 

 plant of this species is generally stated to be Vaccinium. With respect 

 to Tortrices the occurrence of G. nigromaculana may be recorded, 

 and the list of food-plants of P. sponsana extended. Although birch, 

 oak, hornbeam, and mountain ash have been mentioned, the last- 

 named species of Peronea is generally stated to feed upon beech, but 

 pupge found between the spun-up leaves of sallow and of sycamore 

 also yielded this moth. The leaves of one particular sycamore tree 

 were quite riddled by these larvae, a large percentage of which proved 

 to be ichneumoned. — E. Meldola ; 6, Brunswick Square, October 

 12th, 1909. 



Huntingdonshire Deagonplies, 1909. — My visits to Hunting- 

 donshire this summer afforded very few opportunities for collecting, 

 in consequence of the persistence of dull and rainy weather. I was 

 fortunate enough, however, to make acquaintance with Lihellula 

 ful'va as a living insect. This was the only Anisopterid species met 

 with, and a few specimens were seen, including a pair in cop., flying 

 over the Eiver Ouse at Hartford ; but they were extremely active, 

 and two or three days were consumed in their pursuit before a 

 specimen could be secured (July 2nd). It was a fully matured male, 

 having the abdomen wholly blue ; the eyes were slaty-blue above, 

 with a greenish tinge below. The only previous record which I can 

 find of the occurrence of this species in the county is that given in 

 Stephens's '111. Brit. Ent.' (VI. Mand. p. 93, 1836), where L. himacu- 

 lata (= L. fulva) is stated to have been "taken in the neighbourhood 

 of Whittlesea Mere in June." A few pairs of Lestes dryas were again 

 obtained from ditches near Ramsey (June 28th), but they were in an 

 immature state. The pterostigmata, which in the adults are blackish, 



