SOME DIARY NOTES ON THE SEASOn's COLLECTING. 235 



at dusk, and we accordingly both went in search of this little species as 

 soon as the sun was down. Many insects soon began flying, many of 

 which were noticed to be Noctuids. As soon as it was dark I lit an acety- 

 lene lamp with which I had provided myself, and as the light was directed 

 upon the bush by one of us, the other netted and boxed Meliana flammea, 

 fiTC, Apamea unanimh, seven, Neuria reticulata, one, Hadena dmimilis, 

 one, besides some Collix sparsato and other commoner Geometrids. The 

 following night the same insects were taken, but A. unanimis was "off" 

 and 31. flammea much more "on." Arsilonche venosa was taken the 

 following evening singly. The extraordinary scarcity of this insect in 

 Wicken now, after having been so abundant in 1895, is attributable, one 

 is inclined to think, probably, to the parasitic Hymenoptera which attack 

 this species having got in the ascendancy. In the year quoted, when 

 larvfe (and imagines) were so abundant, not more than 7 or 8 per cent, 

 produced moths. Since that time the species has got scarcer and 

 scarcer until now when there are actual doubts as to whether the 

 insect is going to maintain itself in Wicken. 



On Monday, the 11th, Chippenham was visited. Thoughts of a 

 round number of Plmia orichalcea larvae betook themselves when the 

 tall figure of Mr. Farren loomed in sight. An out-of-the-way corner 

 gave me two larvae, and I considered myself lucky. The same evening, 

 in Wicken, Hydrelia uncula appeared. Four specimens were taken. 

 On the 14th A. unanwiis completed my series, and besides Hadena 

 dentina in abundance, a solitary specimen of Leucania obsoleta was 

 secured on the sugared reeds. Netting produced Nascia cilicdis and 

 Herminia cribralU, probably the first of the season, as on the previous 

 evenings they were absent. The work of the day was devoted to a run 

 over to Tuddenham. Just previous to a severe thunderstorm a fine 

 specimen of Acontia lactuosa was secured, and also the specimen of 

 Colias hijale (already recorded, Ent. Eec., antea, p. 219). Nearly every 

 night gave one specimen of Neuria reticulata on the sugar. But the 

 12th produced three. On the 15th an annual visit was made to 

 Leicester, where my good friend Mr. Dixon acted as host and guide to 

 old collecting grounds. Next morning a journey was made to a wood 

 near Uppingham, for Carterocephcdus pcdaemon.' The local skipper was 

 found, but in such poor condition and in such few numbers that 

 showed we were quite a fortnight too late, notwithstanding the back- 

 Avard season. This butterfly does not seem to be afl'ected by the 

 seasons much, if at all, the last week in May seeming to be its 

 stereotyped time for appearance. Later in the day a "hark back" was 

 made to Owston Wood. Larva; and pupce of Thecla ic-album were 

 unusually plentiful, and on tree-trunks Melantlda albicillata was quite 

 the commonest imago. The choosing of fir-trunks for a resting 

 place seems odd, unless this insect has an instinct that it may be 

 mistaken for a bird-dropping. Quite a variety of Geometrids were at 

 rest on tree-trunks. Cidaria silaceata, C. sujfumata, C. corylata, C. 

 immanata, Lobophura hcxapterata. (going over), Tephroda crepuscularia 

 (one), gave a goodly bag for the day's v^'ork. At dusk, round the maple 

 bushes, Aathena luteata was plentiful, and as both of us were in want 

 of this little species the few remaining boxes were quickly filled, and a 

 race for the train ended the day. 



(To he continued.) 



