CATALOGUE OP MOTHS. 109 



A moorland insect reported by Dr. Lees to be common in the 

 larval state in Upper Teesdale. I have no other record, and 

 would have expected Mr. Sang and Mr. Grardner to find the 

 larva as they have collected so much there, Mr. Gardner being 

 an exceptionally skilful larva hunter. ISTor did Mr. Finlay find 

 it on the Northumberland moors. It occurs in all the adjacent 

 counties and is certain to occur with us. The larva is very dis- 

 tinct and feeds up in the spring, but it appears almost impossible 

 to bring it to maturity in confinement. 



25. A. porphyrea, W. Y. True Lover's Knot. 



- Agrotis 'porphyrea. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 227. 



„ ,, Kewm. Brit. Moths, p. 334. 



,, ,, Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. iii., p. 362. 



,, strigula. Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 95. 

 Larva. Buck., vol. v., pi. Ixxiii., fig. 1 ; O.Wils., pi. xxxiv., 



fig. 17. 

 Another moorland species, but much commoner than the last, 

 apparently occurring wherever there is any heather. It is 

 abundant on the moors of both counties. '* Generally distri- 

 buted on the moors," J. Finlay ; ''heaths near Bearpark," 

 Ornsby's Durham ; " Shull and on the moors, etc.," W. Back- 

 house; ''common on the Upper Teesdale moors," P. A. Lees. 

 It is also fairly plentiful in heathery places on the coast. Mr. 

 Barrett says it "appears to regard sugar with contempt," but 

 both Mr. Gardner and I have taken it at that bait, and I have 

 also taken it at Honey-dew on a Privet hedge. Though its 

 natural flight is at dusk, when it may be seen flying freely over 

 the heather, it is often on the wing in the day time. I have 

 seen it at mid-day on Greenleighton Moor, and in 1894 I took 

 one flying in the morning sun in Hartlepool streets. 



26. A. praecox, Linn. Portland Moth. 

 Agrotis prcBCox. Staint. Man., vol. i., p. 227. 



„ ,, Kewm. Brit. Moths, p. 334. 



,, ,, Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. iii., p. 368. 



„ ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 93. 



Larva. Buck., vol. v., pi. Ixxiii., fig. 2 ; 0»"Wils., pi. xxxiv., 



fi^. 18, 



