75 



with a series which I took at Eastbourne under precisely similar 

 conditions, there appears to be less inclination to run into ochreous 

 shades. The one yellow specimen shown was taken on an inland 

 fence, but as at the time of capture this fence afforded the only 

 shelter in the immediate neighbourhood from a small gale that 

 was blowing, I think we may conclude that the moth had been 

 driven from the exposed walls by the force of the wind, and had 

 rested on the fence as the only place of safety. The remaining eight 

 specimens are all from a concrete wall ; seven of them are ex- 

 ceedingly dark, the usual pale ground colour of the fore-wings being 

 replaced by a dull ochreous grey, and the hind-wings are suffused 

 with a dark grey shade, showing the white sub-marginal spots in 

 strong contrast, and giving the insect a very peculiar appearance. 

 These seven are a fair average of the form taken on this particular 

 wall, the eighth, which more closely approaches the type, being quite 

 exceptional there. 



Bryophila muralis, Forst., appears to be getting much scarcer in 

 the district than it used to be, a constant search of the most likely 

 walls revealing only some half-dozen examples; two of these, however, 

 had but just emerged for their wings were only partially expanded, 

 both being found about five o'clock in the afternoon. 



The few other moths that came under my notice call for no 

 special remark. The day-flying species that came in my way were 

 of the most ordinary type, and I had but little opportunity for night 

 work ; indeed, on the only occasion when I attempted it, the 

 approach of a heavy thunder-storm, accompanied by huge drops of 

 rain, caused me to beat a hasty retreat ere the nocturnal species 

 were on the wing. 



Among larvce the only thing that attracted ray attention was the 

 enormous number of Bombyx rubi, L., that were wandering about 

 the downs, one could hardly help treading upon them ; but I 

 noticed that almost all of them had the conspicuous white eggs of 

 an ichneumon securely attached to their skins ; that any great 

 number of imagines will result from the abundance of larvae is 

 therefore improbable. 



