CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 89 



The Pairing of Cerastis ligula. — I never remember seeing any 

 statement as to whether our two closely allied species of Cerastis 

 (C. ligula and C. vaccinii) pair in the autumn or in spring. I was 

 therefore much interested in discovering a pair of C. ligula in cop. on 

 an ivy-leaf in my garden at 5.15 p.m. on November 25th, 1906. They 

 had separated at 9 p.m. the same evening, and I kept the female with 

 the hope of her laying eggs before she died. To-day I find her dead, 

 but no trace of any eggs. I don't ever remember taking this species 

 in the spring, and therefore still feel doubtful as to when she really 

 does oviposit. Can any of your readers solve the question ? — Rev. 

 G. H. Raynor ; Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, February 4th, 1907. 



P.S. — Last night (March 27th) I took a female of this species at 

 sallow. It may therefore be inferred that after pairing the female 

 survives the winter, and oviposits in March and April. — G. H. R. 



Amphidasys betularia var. doubledayaria. — Seeing your notice on 

 " Melanism in Yorkshire Lepidoptera," by G. T. Porritt, F.Z.S. (ante, 

 p. 23), I thought it might interest you to know that on the Lincoln- 

 shire Wolds var. doubledayaria appears to be the dominant form of 

 Amphidasys betularia, as in the South- West Riding of Yorkshire. At all 

 events, I have obtained a considerable number of pupae, mostly under 

 ash-trees, and all so far have been var. doubledayaria. — Sairgnar B. 

 Steelman ; Binbrook, Market Rasen, Lincoln, March 11th, 1907. 



Notes on Hertfordshire Insects, 1906. — Captures in my light- 

 trap at Bushey Heath during 1906 included the following species ; 

 those marked with an asterisk being new to my "light " list (which 

 now totals three hundred and seven species), and one, Gelechia dijftnis, 

 is also new to the Hertfordshire list : — Drepana binaria, Dipterygia 

 scabriuscula, Calymnia pyralina, Selenia lunaria, '■'•Tephrosia crepuscularia, 

 Eupithecia pulchellata, E. exiguata, Pelurga comitata, -''Scoparia dubi- 

 talis, *Hedya dealbana, * Plutella maculipennis (cruciferarum), '^Gelechia 

 diffinis ; also dark forms of Axylia putris, and a male and female 

 Spilosoma lubricipeda with unusually large black markings. Phigalia 

 pilosaria was taken as early as January 26th. 



Sugaring in the garden was more successful than during the 

 previous few years, and among others I took : — Hydrwcia micacea, 

 Dipterygia scabriuscula, Apamea unanimis, Oaradrina niorpheus, C. cubi- 

 cularis, Agrotis suffusa, A. saucia (two females), Noctua augur, Xanthia 

 cerago, X. ferruginea, Polia flavicincta, Miselia oxyacantha and var. 

 capucina, Agriopis aprilina (one female, a rather dark form), Hadena 

 protea, H. genista?, Orthosia lota. A few Plasia moneta, P. chrysitis, 

 Hecatera serena, Pericallia syringaria, Hepialus humuli, and many 

 commoner species were taken at dusk in the garden, and Gonoptera 

 libatrix occurred in the house in February and September. Pieris 

 rapa, was first seen on April 11th, and on the same day three Vanessa 

 urtica were seen in the garden. One specimen of Thecla iv-alburn was 

 taken here on July 16th ; and Vanessa atalanta was seen at sugar on 

 October 14th. 



Several visits were paid to Pre Wood, St. Albans, in the company 

 of Mr. A. E. Gibbs, the first being on March 31st to sallows, when we 

 took a single specimen of Taniocampa populeti, and two Pachnobia 

 rubricosa ; while the commoner Tagniocampidas swarmed, accompanied 



ENTOM. APRIL. 1907 I 



