5 
had a real Scotch mist. Every pine needle, every blade and culm of 
grass hung with fine dew-like drops ; water was trickling down the 
tree trunks, so that the old and porous posts, supporting the numerous 
wire fences, afforded practically the only dry resting-place. In such 
situations I took, among others, Woctua dahlit, NV. elarcosa, LE punda 
nigra, and Calocampa solidaginis. The last has a very peculiar 
habit of resting. The head is very closely appressed to the resting 
surface, rough or smooth; and, apparently to enable the insect to 
do this more effectually, the hind legs are drawn up something after 
the manner of a grasshopper, and are used to thrust the posterior 
extremity away from the resting surface at an angle of 30° or 35°. 
The wings are corrugated towards the hind margin, and thus taper 
outwards. aie dorsal contour is slightly concave, caused by the 
gradual wrinkling, and therefore crowding of wing material towards 
the hind margin, so that on a decorticated pine post, grey and 
weather-worn, it may be mistaken by a casual observer for a deflec- 
tion of a splinter of the post itself. I was more than once deceived 
even after I had observed the resemblance. The similarity in colour, 
too, was most remarkable. I have heard it stated that the insect 
thrusts its head into the holes or depressions on the trunks of trees. 
There is, I think, no doubt this is so, for on two occasions I found it 
in such a position. In the cases to which I allude the surfaces were 
quite smooth ; and what I venture to contend is that, however first 
induced and acquired, whether by thrusting the head into depressions 
for the purpose of concealment, protection, or comfort, the habit is 
as firmly fixed, irrespective of the nature of the resting surface, as 
is that of a dog who turns himself round and round to arrange an 
imaginary bed of rushes or grass before lying down on perfectly bare 
ground. 
Among the Geometre I was more fortunate as regards numbers, 
although genera were few. One of the most interesting, because new 
to me, was Lmmelesta minorata, almost the most local insect I met 
with in the Highlands. It was confined toa very limited area, but an 
exceedingly pleasant one to work in after the @¢hiopfs ground. 
An open country of billowy greensward crested with feathery birch, 
either singly or in clusters. ‘A few huge blocks of limestone, grey 
and lichen-stained, scattered around ; here and there a solitary giant 
fir, old and erizzled—the sole remnants of the famous Rothiemurchus 
firs left standing as specimens when the forest was denuded. Below, 
a panoramic view of the lovely Spey valley fading away to the north- 
east ; while to the south, towering sentry-like above all, was the placid 
and solitary Ord Bain. Such was the habitat of this delicate little 
insect, to which Mr. King introduced me one afternoon at the end of 
July. We found it sporting in the hollows and in the slopes, looking, 
in the sunshine, like little flakes of silver. The specimens netted 
were either going over, or the folds of my rather coarse net were too 
much for an insect so fragile. However, much to my chagrin, the 
weather changed as usual, the sun was overcast, a fine drizzle 
