﻿COLLECTING IN WALES. 367 



August, 1887, and August, 1889) that — thanks to Messrs. L. L. 

 Samuels and C. Oldham — Zygana pilosellce (minos) turned up at 

 Abersoch in the years above mentioned. Although the insect 

 appears to be due in the second week of June, I decided that a 

 visit might result in the capture of a late specimen, or in the 

 establishment of such relations with the neighbourhood as would 

 enable me to secure a series of this rare and beautiful moth. 

 Amidst much regret that I could not have the company of my 

 kind host, I was driven again to Penrhyndeudraeth, and from 

 thence by train to Pwllheli. I was surprised to find Pwllheli — 

 figuratively speaking at the end of the world — such a smart - 

 looking town. There are good hotels, — one I can answer for, 

 ' The Crown,' and from this hostelry a trap runs in connection 

 with the morning train to Abersoch. The regular conveyance 

 had been requisitioned by a lot of school children for a day's 

 outing ; but, in lieu of this, I was introduced to a Welsh car. 

 This is a low, circular vehicle, on four wheels, with a chair-like 

 seat high up in front for the driver. The turn-out included a big, 

 spanking horse, and conjured up, in due chronological order, 

 visions of Jehu, the war-chariot of the ancient Britons, and the 

 modern reaping-machine. Wishing the youngsters a pleasant 

 day, away we went in bright sunshine, and I whiled away the 

 time by eyeing the long rows of willows on each side of the road 

 — an occupation ever and anon interrupted by the jerks and 

 efforts of our quadruped to shoot me out at the rear of the trap. 

 On reaching Abersoch I was speedily on " the sunny slopes above 

 the cliffs," but only to find that I was three or four weeks too late 

 for my insect. V. urticce, S. semele, E. ianira, E. tithonus, C. 

 pamphilus, L. icarus {alexis), Z.filipenclulce, and P. petraria were 

 abundant. Sticking to the bents of the maritime grass, and 

 close to the sea, were thousands of the pretty spiral land shell, 

 Bulimus acutus. At our hotel I was shown what had been a fine 

 specimen of Acherontia atropos. It flew in through the open 

 window ; and I was informed the moth was not at all unusual, — 

 a matter perhaps explained by the numerous potato patches on 

 the hill-sides. I did not leave the village until I had every reason 

 to hope for a series of Z. pilosellce from the cliffs next season. I 

 got back to Pwllheli (Pool-tell-he will do for an Englishman) wet 

 through; but as I had long since graduated — taking the degree 

 AmpJdbious — the matter was a small one. I reached Tan-y- 

 Bwlch in the evening, and a chat over the events of the day 

 brought to a close our long and enjoyable insect raid. 



Chester, October, 1890. 



