OCCUKEING ON THE COAST, NEAR THE TYNE. 291 



towards answering the question, as it is the food-plant of the 

 larva.* (See Tapinostola JElymi, Newman's Brit. Moths, p. 275.) 



Chortodes arcuosa. — Flies commonly near ditches and hedge 

 sides. 



Gortyna flavago. — Is easily found in the larva or pupa state 

 in the stems of thistles, on which it feeds ; also, but rarely, in 

 stems of ragwort, at the end of August. The moth flies in 

 October and November. 



Hydreecia nict items and micacea. — Common, at sugar. 



Xylophasia rurea. — Abundant among nettles at Shields, and 

 at sugar at Cullercoats. 



Xylophasia polyodon. — One of our commonest insects. I have 

 often seen twenty at one patch of sugar. It varies in colour, 

 from a light tawny grey to nearly jet black. 



Xylophasia lithoxylea, sublastris, and hepatica. — Are taken at 

 sugar, at Cullercoats. 



Chareas Graminis. — Flies in a field near Marsden. 



Ceriejo Cytherea. — Comes occasionally to sugar at Cullercoats. 



Lnperina testacea and cespitis. — Occur on the ballast-hills, and 

 the former also at Cullercoats. 



Mamestra abjecta, anceps, edbicolon, and Brassicce. — Come to 

 sugar on both sides of the river. The last named is in the larval 

 state, one of our garden pests, and sometimes swarms. 



Apamea basilinea. — Common generally. 



,, gemina and the variety remissa. — Are not uncommon 

 visitors to sugar at Cullercoats, but scarce at Shields. 



Apamea, unanimis and fibrosa. — I have taken both at sugar at 

 Cullercoats ; they have not been taken elsewhere to my know- 

 ledge. 



Apamea oculea. — Swarms all over the district. 



Miana strigilis. — Taken at sugar at Cullercoats. 



* Elymus arenarius is a very common plant on all the Sand-dunes of Northumberland 

 and Durham, and certainly indigenous. See Flora Nat. Hist. Trans., Vol. II., p, 8, 1881, 

 ,ind New Series, Vol. II., p. 292, 1868.— Ed. 



I 



