GLEANINGS FROM DARTMOOR. 185 
suppose the shower may have disturbed it. In like manner the only 
specimen of Strymon w-albwm that I have taken for years in that dis- 
trict was one taken about 6.80 p.m., after a very hot day, on the 
ground beside a bridge over one of the small tributaries of the river 
Bovey, but in this case I think it must have come down to drink as it 
was settled in the proper butterfly resting attitude. Ruralis betulae 
occurs more or less all over the district. I have taken and bred larvee 
from blackthorn from some of the most exposed parts of Dartmoor, 
such as Post Bridge and elsewhere. Polyommatus icarus is not com- 
mon, so for as my experience goes, but is very wide spread.  Plebeius 
aegon (argus) is very common in its own localities and suffused blue 
females often occur, one pretty little specimen is of the radiate form 
and has on the secondaries a series of saggitate submarginal blue 
marks. The second brood of Rumicia (Heodes) phlaeas turned up on 
August Ist, one specimen having very large spots. Celastrina argiolus 
is to be found throughout the district, though last year I only took 
four examples, three females and one male. 
Much was said last year (1917) on the abundance of Vanessa 20, 
my own experience confirms this also; I do not remember to have 
seen such large numbers before. It is a beautiful object in the sun- 
light, and its black marbled underside is sometimes very striking. 
Epinephele jurtina and Pararye megera I have already referred to, 
both are common throughout the neighbourhood. 
Of the Hesperiidae, the commonest so far as my experience goes is 
Adopaeca flava (thaumas), Hufn., this species being very abundant. 
Agriades comma is also by no means rare. 
Of the Heterocera I have a very limited personal experience, as I 
have never been able conveniently to sugar, owing to my being always 
with nonentomological friends or relations, and most of my captures 
have been day-fiying species or have come in to light—last year this 
was fairly successful, and it is very interesting to watch the comport- 
ment of the different species. Malacosoma neustria dashes about in the 
wildest fashion until apparently tired out, when it settles and must be 
bottled immediately ; only males visited me, among them, however, 
were two very pretty pale ochreous specimens. They are, however, 
very variable in the tone of colour. Cosmotriche potatoria flies wildly 
about the room and must be caught with a net, though they will 
occasionally settle for a few minutes, though only to begin again very 
soon with their mad dance. Anarta myrtilli was very active at first, 
but soon settled down quietly. One Prothymnia viridaria, a very dark 
Specimen, put in an appearance, and though not very active was very 
restless and required several attempts to box it off the ceiling. Bryo- 
phila perla was also fairly quiet after the first short excitement, and 
was a frequent intruder. Both sexes of Crocallis elinguaria put in an 
appearance and danced about very excitedly indeed, and two specimens 
of the 20 plume moth were likewise attracted, as also were single 
specimens both of Hypena proboscidalis and Aphomia sociella. Fyiroecta 
nictitans, a very fresh and brightly coloured specimen likewise paid me 
a single call and made its home in my cabinet, whilst Leucania pallens, 
as was to be expected, paid many calls. Of the other Leucaniae, L. 
lithargyria was quite the commonest, but only one very worn L. coniyera 
turned up. Two Caradrina (Athetis) alsines and one Miana strigilis came, 
whilst of the Pyralidae two specimens of Pyrausta purpuralis were very 
