256 [April, 
Scotch form known as assimilis, to specimens of very different colouring and mark- 
ing. In short, the insect is far more variable than Apamea oculea. Were we to 
learn to breed our Scotch Hadena assimilis, and, after breeding some 50 or so, to 
discover that it did not vary at all, but was always the same, that would simply 
prove that Crymodes exulis was more variable in Iceland than in Scotland, but 
would not in any way establish as a fact that Hadena assimilis and Orymodes exulis 
are two distinct species.—EDs. | 
Captures, Sc., of Lepidoptera near York, in 1870.—The spring of 1870 was bad 
for entomological purposes, nothing but cold east winds, so we could pay very little 
attention to the sallows until the end of April, and then they were nearly over. 
Two T. opima and a few L. lobulata were the only species worth mentioning. May, 
however, brought better prospects, insects appearing frequently in my breeding 
cage. During the month I bred QC. curtula, C. reelusa, N. dromedarius, D. furcula, 
D. falcula, C. duplaris, E. pimpinellata, lariciata, fraxinata, subnotata, minutata, 
castigata, assimilata, venosata, &c. Upon tree boles I took £. indigata. LB. lariciata 
was not rare amongst larch. Towards the latter end of the month, insects began 
to appear at sugar, and in June, they were abundant, I obtained fine series of 
T. derasa and batis, C. duplaris, A. leporina, L. pudorina and comma, X. sublustris — 
and hepatica, N. saponarie, A. unanimis, A. herbida, H. suasa, D. cucubali, &e. 
P. lignata (the first brood) was rather commou in our bog, and C. sparsata began to 
appear. I also took a fine S. vetulata, which, with one in 1869, I believe to be the 
first occurrence of the insect here: also E. pulchellata, valerianata, and denotata, 
A. luteata, M. albicillata, H. impluviata, appeared now and then. In the beginning 
of the month, I bred a fine series of D. carpophaga and a few capsincola. In the 
early part of July, Mr. Carrington and 1 took E. pulchellata pretty freely ; the larva 
of this insect varies much, and is very subject to parasites. During July we obtained 
the following species at sugar: A. fibrosa, T. interjecta and janthina, O. suspecta (a 
long series), A. aquilina, H. costestrigalis, OC. Haworthii, M. literosa, &c. On the 
18th of this month, I met Mr. Carrington and Mr. Taylor, of Leeds, in Cawood 
Wood, for the purpose of searching for T. roboraria, we having heard that the 
species had been taken there. We found no roboraria, but, instead thereof, three 
brethren of the net, Mr. Birchall and his son, and Mr. Baxendale, of Halifax, with 
whom we spent a very pleasant day. Considering the fine weather, the paucity of 
insects was remarkable : however, we made an appointment to have a day at York | 
in the following week, with the Messrs. Birchall, to look for E. vespertaria. Ac- 
cordingly we started for our hunting ground early on the evening of the 16th, and, 
after sugaring our trees, took a few A. inornata, &c. Next morning we rose early, 
and proceeded to run the blockade, for, be it known, that the proprietor of the 
estate had offered 5s. reward for the apprehension of any entomologist found — 
thereon! Soon after 7 a.m., vespertaria made its appearance, and by breakfast time 
we each had a fair series; after breakfast a few were taken, but the flight was 
over: females were very scarce, only one was taken. After an early dinner, we 
tried searching and beating in the wood, and took several fair things, L. dictewoides. 
falling to Mr. Carrington’s lot. Towards evening we began our return to old Kbor, 
and on the way found a few larve of CO. curtula and reclusa, in spun-together aspen | 
leaves. Early in the month I found a few specimens of S. basistrigalis, but did not 
