NOTES ON COLLECTING. 51 



started on July 5th, most were worn, and yet the last specimen on the 

 26th was quite fresh. After this date I treacled'no more until Septem- 

 ber 18th, and then continued about twice a week until October 27th, 

 and once more on December 14th as already recorded. 



The only other species of interest taken besides those mentioned, 

 were Asphalia dilnta (not uncommonly in September), Xanthia fulvago 

 ysbv. flavescens, Peridronia saiicia, and P. siiffiisa. 



The quantities of Orrhodia vacciiiii and Scopelofioma Hatellitla on 

 some evenings were quite phenomenal. My small patches were much 

 more than covered, the moths crawling over and knocking each other 

 on to the ground. The wood is full of hills and hollows, and I always 

 found that success depended much more on wind than warmth. Some 

 very warm still nights were the poorest, while on windy ones, even 

 when very cold, the moths swarmed. 



The foregoing notes are, of necessity, very disjointed, as there has 

 been little time at my disposal. But from what I have seen I am 

 .anxious to explore the district more thoroughly in the coming year, 

 unhampered by war restrictions. 



The wood in question is a large private one, mainly oak, with a 

 very varied undergrowth, including a lot of birch and aspen, and in. 

 pre-war days somewhat strictly preserved for game. With a cottage 

 on the spot, however, I have had no difficulty in gaining access. 



I have never seen or heard of an Entomologist in the district, buf 

 should imagine I am on some of the historic ground worked by 

 Doubleday, and probably the scene of his Glyphisia crenata capture. 



Needless to say, this species has not turned up, but from the look 

 of the place, I can well believe it holds many treasures as yet un- 

 discovered. — EussELL James, Ongar Park Cottage, Ongar. February 

 1919. 



Treacling in 1918. — It is the ill-fortune of war that we appear 

 to have had an exceptionally good treacling year in 1918, when the 

 restrictions of light, and rationing, made the pursuit of this collecting 

 method well-nigh impossible. With a little management and economy, 

 however, something could be done, and I made small quantities of 

 syrup go a long way. Besides finding moths whenever 1 treacled in 

 my local wood, I had really first class nights on the only two occasions 

 -on which I tried in other districts. 



The first of these was on June 20th, at Wyre Forest. I ran across 

 for one evening when business had taken me to Wolverhampton. A 

 farmhouse, ^which I knew to be the haunt of several Worcester 

 collectors, not only gave me comfortable quarters, but supplied 

 treacling ingredients in generous measure. Thus armed, I treacled 

 my only really long round since rationing started, and happily the 

 moths appreciated it. Agrotis exdaniationis far outnumbered all other 

 species put together, but among them were a nice lot of useful insects, 

 the most conspicuous being Aplecta tincta, of which I took a long 

 series in the loveliest condition. 



Aplecta herbida was rarer, but A. nebulosa was abundant, strikingly 

 pale in colour after my dark Ongar specimens. I was very surprised 

 at the absence of Cymatophora duplaris, C. or, and C. fluctuosa, the 

 first-named usually very common, and even the last I expected in fair 

 numbers on such a night. I remember Mr. A. J. Hodges taking, I 



