NOTES ON COLLECTING. 255 



larvse. The larvae of the pretty little lichen feeder, Cleora Uchenaria, 

 beat in some number from an old hedge when I was unconsciously 

 trespassing on Mr. J. Bonamy Collings' ground, above his new house. 

 The owners came upon me and courteously invited me to continue my 

 hunt ; in consequence I bred about 20 specimens of the moth. Agrotis 

 strigula or " True lover's knot," is to be obtained easily in the pupal 

 stage in mid-July — under the heather above Gull Rock — and near 

 Pleinmont Point. On one occasion I got seven in less than an hour. 

 .The larvffi of Dianthcecia conspersa [nana), as well as D. capsophila, are 

 ta be had in some number by searching the sea campion on the cliffs, 

 with larvae of Eupiithecia venosata and others. 



This year I found one solitary larva of Lasiucampa trifolii, which, 

 I had not seen for a very long time. It unfortunately escaped from 

 the breeding cage a day or two later. I was more successful with our 

 Guernsey form of Dianthcecia barrettii var. loicei, for I have bred a 

 dozen fine specimens from pupae obtained by hours of patient and 

 exhausting labour. — (Rev.) Frank E. Lowe (F.E.S.), Guernsey. 



Butterflies in North Yorks. — My experience with the Vanessids 

 this year may be of interest. Vanessa io has occurred at Middlesbrough 

 on two occasions, the first on September 16th, in a friend's garden, 

 probably attracted to a flowering Biuldleia, on which " whites " (which 

 have been only too numerous for gardeners) and Pyrameis atalanta were 

 disporting themselves ; the other specimen was sitting on an empty 

 plant box in the garden, in a very dazed condition, in the early morn- 

 ing of October 11th, after a cold frosty night ; the sun coming out it 

 was slowly moving its wings about, apparently trying to get up its 

 circulation, something, probably a bird, had evidently had a bite at it 

 when in a folded position, as it had an identical piece out of both wings. 

 It is fully 30 years since I have seen this butterfly in the Middlesbrough 

 district. Vanessa io was also noticed by me in early September, in 

 Upper Swaledale, disporting itself on flowers of the wild mint, along 

 with a number of Aglais urticae (and Hydroecia nictitans) which seemed 

 to be quite abundant both here and in the adjoining dale, of Wensley- 

 dale, reminding one more of what used to be 20 to 25 years ago. A. 

 urticae also occurred at the Buddleia and Sedum spectabile flowers in my 

 garden during September, along with numbers of the lovely Pyrameis 

 atalanta. 



Single specimens of Pyrameis cardui were noticed at Glaisdale on 

 August 25th, and at Saltburn-by-the-Sea on September 12th. 



A specimen of Euvanessa antiopa is recorded as being taken at sea 

 off Tees mouth, on August 15th. 



There appears to be no doubt that long severe winters are favour- 

 a.ble to insect life, especially the butterflies, and a series of these would 

 probably go a long way to re-establishing many species that have 

 become very scarce in recent years. — T. Ashton Lofthouse, Linthorpe, 

 Middlesbrough. November 10th, 1917. 



Sphinx convolvuli in North Yorks. — Mr. Frank Elgie, Curator of 

 the Middlesbrough Museum, informed me that he had had five spei- 

 mens of this hawkmoth brought to him taken in this district during 

 August and early September. — Id. 



