NOTES ON COLLECTING. 55 



Abonfc the end of August and early September fresh specimens 

 again occurred, smaller and less strongly marked. I had been under 

 the impression that P. icariis was single- brooded in the north of 

 Ireland, but these facts seem to point to at least a partial second 

 brood. I saw no other " blues " and no " skippers." 



I had little opportunity of collecting moths. Arctia caia was 

 frequent in the larval state and a nice $ form was bred from a Belfast 

 larva. Spilosoma menthastri and Diaphora mendica occurred freely in 

 the larval state in September. The imagines of S. menthastri in May 

 were of a creamy tint. I reared a brood of D. mendica larv» from a 

 Belfast $ which are now in the pupal state, and I have not yet seen 

 the S' form in the district. S. Inbricipeda was not met with in any 

 stage. Some few Noctuae were obtained which await identification. 

 (I regret to say I know practically nothing of this group). 



Among the Geometers the most interesting were Xanthorho'e flue- 

 tuata and Boarmia repandata. Of the former a lovely melanic form 

 occurred, the most extreme specimen being of a uniform dark grey, 

 with whitish veins and subterminal line, the usual markings being 

 present. The hindwings are uniform dark grey, the usual transverse 

 lines being very faintly indicated. The specimens form a pleasing 

 contrast to a very light form taken on Salisbury Plain in April. The 

 B. repandata are a very dark mottled form. One uniform dark grey 

 specimen was also obtained. 



Among other Geometrae obtained were Hydriomena fitrcata {Hypsi- 

 petes elutata), Opisthograptis liiteolata (Riwiia crataegata), Lozogramm,a 

 [Panagra) petraria, Xanthorho'e {Melanipjpe) montanata , Cidaria falvata, 

 Dysstroiiia citrata (C. imnianata), Lygris testata (swarming throughout 

 August and early September among dwarf sallow on the coast), Male- 

 nydris [Larentia] didymata, Ochyria (Coremia) unidentaria, Avaitis 

 plagiata, and Ematurga atomaria. All are quite common insects and 

 quite ordinary forms. Certain things were not met with at all. Ou- 

 rapteryx samhucaria, Ennomidae, etc., and only isolated specimens of 

 Abraxas grossnlariata. 



Hepialus hinnuli occurred towards the end of June, the males being 

 quite of the southern form. 



Zygaena fiUpendulae cocoons were obtained in Belfast and Cc. 

 Down in early June and again on the Down coast in August, the 

 imagines showing a tendency to confluent spotting. In the earlier 

 specimens this confluence chiefly affected the outer two spots, and in 

 the later specimens the central areas. In August I found two speci- 

 mens in a lonely spot on the Co. Down coast impaled on the marram 

 grass. 



The " Micros " are not yet identified. 



A few notes of a more general nature may be of interest. In July 

 I reared a great number of Arctia caia from Salisbury larvae. Among 

 these were two or three rather interesting varieties and about a dozen 

 extreme forms — all crippled. These included two with black hind- 

 wings ; one with the white markings light brown, one hindwing black 

 the other normal ; two or three with hindwing markings all united 

 into a blotch ; one with all wings cream-coloured, without any mark- 

 ings ; one in which one forewing had the white and brown distributed 

 in a very abnormal manner ; and one with forewings sufi'used. All 

 these insects were very weak and some scarcely able to crawl about,. 



