254 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



quietly do they sit after the day's gambol, that a careful selection of 

 the more perfect specimens is an easy matter. Ova were laid by 

 several females on the leaves and stems of the bilberry, and the 

 resulting larvae, hatched in six days, were sleeved on the same plant 

 until two-thirds grown, and then transferred to bramble. They took 

 the latter food readily, but neglected the leaves for the unopened 

 flower-buds, into which they burrowed after the manner of Dian- 

 thcecia larvte. The same habit was noticed when on bilberry. The 

 larvae invariably sought out the seed capsule, entering it usually from 

 the top, but sometimes boring through the side. I observed also 

 that the upper and more succulent portion of the bilberry- stem was 

 eaten readily. The most exciting feature of the day's sport was 

 assembling with a newly emerged female Saturnia ixtvonia, which 

 was found about midday at rest on the heather. About 5 p.m. she 

 was placed on a prominent twig of heather and commenced calling 

 almost immediately. From far and wide the amorous males re- 

 sponded, and we could have secured a hundred with ease. Helpless 

 in their infatuation, they were readily caught without the aid of the 

 net. After some time we allowed copulation to take place, but still 

 more males crowded upon and completely covered the hapless 

 couple ; and even after the pair had been removed, the part of the 

 bush where the female had been sitting proved equally attractive. 

 Ematiinja atomaria flew in abundalice, and some nice banded females 

 were secured. Hadena glauca and Malanydns salicata were both 

 out, sitting on the alder-trunks, but we were a little early for 

 Acronycta menyanthidis, which occurs here in quantity and nice 

 variety. Anticlea derivatd appeared on the 20th. It is not an early 

 insect in this part of the country ; I have never taken it before the 

 17th of May. On the 22nd a long series of perfectly fresh Strenia 

 clathrata was obtained. A female Pieris napi with rich yellow 

 under side, and a male Pieris rai^ce with large discal spot, fell to the 

 net on the 23rd. Dusking on the 24:th resulted in a nice series of 

 Lamproptaryx suffumata with var. piceata. 



In a fine open wood, abounding in oak, birch, sallow, alder, 

 heather, and bilberry — an ideal hunting-ground and a favourite spot 

 for sugaring — I found Chrysophanus phlmas, Goenonymplia pamphilus, 

 EucUdia mi, and Melanippe sociata, all in excellent order, on May 

 26th, and on the same day beat larvae of Pseudoterpna pruinata from 

 the gorse. May was a grand month, nearly every day fine, and many 

 of them gloriously hot, and by the end of the month our beautiful 

 country looked luxuriant and attractive. 



Things now began to move in the pupae-cage. Each day saw 

 emerging Xylophasia rurea with dark forms, Avvphidasys betularia, 

 Odontopera bidentata, and Cidaria corylcUa. Nearly all my betularia 

 are var. doubledayaria, and all the larvae were beaten from birch on 

 the mosses, at least a dozen miles from any factory chimney ! Var. 

 doubledayaria is commoner here than the type, and so far from its 

 sombre colour being a protection, it appears only to render it more 

 conspicuous. I have frequently observed it resting in the daytime 

 high up on the light limestone walls of the Kendal houses. Larvie of 

 Geometrapapilionaria, beaten from birch last September, and wintered 

 on cut birch twigs kept in a muslin-covered jam-jar outside (but pro- 



