OCCURRING ON THE COAST, NEAR THE TYNE. 285 



The above-mentioned are all the butterflies that, as far as I 

 can find, have been noticed on our sea coast. They are few in 

 numbers, and comparatively few specimens of each species, the 

 white kinds excepted, are to be found. 



NOCTTJRNI (MOTHS). 



SPHINGIDjE. 



Smermthus Populi. — Is common on both sides of the river. 

 Several larvae were feeding on poplars in my garden. 



Acherontia Atropos. — Occurs both in the larva and imago state. 



Sphynx Convolvuli. — Is usually rare, but in common with most 

 other parts of the country we have had the pleasure of seeing 

 them more commonly this year than usual. A fine specimen 

 was found at rest on a scaffolding pole at South Shields, and is 

 now in my collection. I also saw a large one hovering over 

 some carnations in the garden, but having unfortunately laid 

 aside my net, missed it. At Darlington, and in many other 

 parts of the country, it has occurred frequently ; and it is evi- 

 dent that this is as remarkable a year for it as 1873 was for the 

 Camberwell Beauty. It is quite probable that it will not occur 

 again, in anything like the same numbers, for a generation or 

 more. 



Beilephila Galii. — This splendid moth has become extremely 

 rare of late years, and it is an open question if it is not altogether 

 extinct, as far at least as the coast near the Tyne is concerned. 

 About seven years ago, Mr. Eales obtained a larva, which was 

 feeding on the Lawe at South Shields, and bred the moth. 



Chcerocampa Porcellus. — Occurs now and then on the banks on 

 both sides of the river, where the larva is sometimes found feed- 

 ing on Galium verum. 



Macroglossa stellatarum. — This insect, the well-known Hum- 

 ming-Bird-Hawk-Moth, is very irregular in its appearance.. In 

 some years, it has fairly swarmed on our coast, and then dis- 

 appeared almost entirely. I had the pleasure of seeing two 

 specimens in my garden, at Cullercoats, hovering over and 



