NOTES ON COLLECTING. 213 



Note on N^nia typica. — The larvte of this insect are very 

 plentiful in the gardens here every year on the leaves of the common 

 flag (Iris), but what puzzles me is, where does the perfect insect go to 

 when it takes its flight? I have watched the flowers, and have sugared, 

 with no success, and during seven years' residence here I have never 

 taken it at light. Can any of your readers enlighten me ? Of course, 

 I have bred the insect freely. — Ibid. 



Lepidoptera noted lately at Mucking. — -After collecting nine 

 seasons in one locality, it is refreshing to turn up new species. This 

 year has not been without its surprises. Last night, one of the 

 hottest of this summer, I netted a magnificent specimen of Eupithecia 

 succenturiata, a species which I had never seen alive before. I also 

 took Cidaria picata, and a pale form of Acidalia prouiiitata, both in 

 perfect condition. In my breeding-cages two specimens of Lobophora 

 sexalisata, from larvie beaten from osiers, and a fine Amphidasys 

 hetularia var. doubledayaria also from a beaten larva. I have added 

 Syrichthus malvae, which, of course, I should have taken before. — 

 (Rev.) C. R. N. Burrows, Mucking Vicarage, Essex. Jime '2i2nd, 

 1906. 



A SUCCESSFUL transplanting experiment. — Agrophila trabealis. 



From June 30th to July 2nd, 1903, I was in the Brecksand district, 

 and happened upon a considerable colony of Agrophila trabealis 

 {sulphiiralis). Of the specimens captured, several females laid, as is 

 their wont, a number of eggs, which I brought home to Mucking, 

 with the purpose of rearing them in captivity. These eggs, laid upon 

 July 3rd, hatched on the 11th. Meanwhile, I had noticed the 

 resemblance of my churchyard to the locality from whence my prisoners 

 came, and instead of rearing the little larvae in confinement, I turned 

 them out amongst abundant foodplant to feed for themselves. In 

 1904, and again in 1905, I looked in vain for specimens of the insect. 

 But last night a single specimen flew to light, and proved to me that 

 my experiment had not failed. This is the third year that this most 

 local moth has been able to maintain itself in my neighbourhood, 

 and I have every hope that it may get such a hold, that it will remain 

 here for all time. I send this note, not with the sole purpose of 

 advertising A. trabealis to the world, but as a warning to entomologists 

 that, if they take the species in these parts, they may know whence it 

 came. — Ibid. 



Heliothis peltigera in Essex. — I was walking round my garden 

 after dark on July 1st last, chiefly boxing Aplecta advena from valerian 

 flowers. At 10.20, just as I was going indoors, I was amazed to see 

 a specimen of H. peltujera flitting gently and prettily from flower to 

 flower (of valerian). I determined not to risk boxing it, and rushed 

 precipitately indoors for my net. Luckily, on my return, the moth 

 was just where I left it, and Avas hanging down from a flower which 

 evidently aflbrded it a plentiful supply of nectar. In the net it was 

 rather lively, but I boxed it without injury and found it to be a fine 

 female. As a number of Sesia stellatarum had appeared on the 

 scene on the morning of the same day, I quite think H. peltiyera 

 was also an immigrant, brought over by the prevailing north wind. 

 If it is not new to Essex, there are, at any rate, no recent records of 

 its occurrence in the county, — (Rev.) G. H. Raynor, Hazeleigh 

 Rectory, Maldon. July Srd, 1906. 



