254 THE entomologist's record. 



from plentiful this year. From the 16th of June to nearly the end of 

 July I spent most of my days at Pleinmont, and so was able to compare 

 the insects of 1916 with those of 1915 — in the same locality and at the 

 same dates. 



Without exception, I think, every species even the commonest, was 

 less abundant this summer. The early mornings and evenings were 

 very cold though the days were fine; the wind, generally from N.E., 

 often high. In June there were many days of fog lasting till late 

 afternoon. In August and September the weather was more favourable, 

 but insect life had suffered from the exceptional drought during the 

 feeding tmie of their larvfe. The military restrictions in the use of lights 

 still remained a hindrance to night collecting. But notwithstanding 

 drawbacks there are a few interesting captures to note, two species not 

 hitherto recorded for Guernsey, and others of such rare occurrence in 

 the island as to deserve mention. 



My two new discoveries consist of one Eiipithecia, and one Noctua. 

 The former Eiipithecia snbfitlvata was taken in the lane connecting the 

 Castel Church with the Foulon on August 5fch. It is generally reputed 

 common in England. 



The second novelty, Erastria fasciata [fiiscida) was more of a 

 surprise. I beat it out of a hawthorn hedge above, and a little to the 

 west of Petit Bot, on July 28th. This was rather a late date^ for this 

 species, which is a somewhat local insect. I have taken it constantly 

 in the New Forest and also on the continent, but always in woods, 

 especially among fir trees. Its food plant, Purple Melic-grass {MoUnia 

 ccenilea), is stated in Marquand's " Flora of Guernsey" to be rare, but 

 " the cliff's towards Corbiere " are mentioned as a locality where it grows. 



Of things not new, but worthy of observation, Eiichlo'e cardconines, 

 arrived first. The specimen was taken in the fields of Beausejour. 

 The only other reported capture is one taken by the late Mr. Luff in 

 1898, at Gra'nde Mare, in which year I also saw a specimen in the Eamee 

 Road. As its food plants are abundant here, and the butterfly is 

 widely spread and most common in England, it is somewhat strange 

 that it should not be among our indigenous insects. 



On July 14th I took a freshly emerged female of Xola alhula at 

 Les Tielles Forest. Only one other of this always rare moth has 

 been taken in Guernsey, a male — which is also in my cabinet. 



On August 30th, Mr. Frank Drake, of Monnaie de Haut, brought 

 me a full-fed larva of Notodonta ziczac to identify. Mr. Luff' and 

 myself have each taken one specimen of the imago of this moth. 

 These I believe are the only records. From the point of view of rarity, 

 the most notable entomological event was the taking of Leucania 

 l-alhum at sugar in my garden. We must travel back 45 years for a 

 record of a visit to our island of this species. Mr. Luff' took a specimen 

 near Fermain Bay in 1871. I have said "a visit," because there is 

 little doubt that specimens of this rarely taken insect, both in England 

 and here, are immigrants from France. I have a series taken in 

 Switzerland and France where it is common. 



Another moth, the Geometer Xanthorho'e {Melanippe) rivata, appears 

 to be very scarce here. I took two this summer in the Torteval lanes. 

 Mr. Luff took two in 1874 at Fermain. 



Three other insects reputed very scarce in. Guernsey I found to be 

 tolerably common when you know where and when to look for their 



