3218 Insects, 



dents ; " and " it must be so very uncomfortable to be blovved into 

 anatomies and die with broken bones! " There is the veritable Lon- 

 don tradesman, who thinks " the country is all very well on a fine day 

 in summer, but there is nothing like London;" and to prove it brings 

 his newspaper and drinks London porter all the way. If, as Cowper 

 says, and I think few doubt it, — 



" That man immured in cities, still retains 

 His inborn inextinguishable thirst 

 Of rural scenes," 



then is it not a fit subject for regret, that when he does escape from 

 his prison, his want of knowledge of the objects he sees prevents his 

 enjoying the greatest charm Nature possesses ? But to return. 



Years before I was born this wood was hunted for insects ; and al- 

 though rivals have appeared in all directions, it still has many attrac- 

 tions. A dozen nets at the Fox were not an uncommon sight a few 

 years since ; how it is now I cannot say, not having frequented the 

 locality much of late, but whether many or few go, some rarities must 

 from time to time occur. The whole wood rests on chalky soil, and 

 is composed of oak, hazel, birch, maple, sallow, dog-wood, spindle, 

 privet, blackthorn, and a host of other trees and shrubs, while the more 

 lowly growth is very various, and prolific in insects of all orders. I 

 enumerate some of the more uncommon Lepidoptera found here. 



Thecla Betulae. The first week in September, flying about oaks : 

 the larva feeds on blackthorn at the end of May. 



Trochilium Allantiforme. Greenhithe, (Ent. Mag. i. 79). 



Sesia Bombyliformis and S. Fuciformis. On the flowers of Ajuga 

 rep tans, in May. 



Notodonta Cucullina. Once taken by Mr. J. F. Stephens. 



Ptilophora plumigera. Larva on maple. 



Ceropacha fluctuosa. At sugar; June. 



Noctua rhomboidea. At sugar; July and August. 



Neuria Saponaria. At sugar ; June. 



Acronycta Ligustri. At sugar ; June. 



Hadena adusta and II. contigua. At sugar; June. The larvae of 

 the latter I have found in September on young birches. 



Polia tincta. Larvae on birches ; April. 



„ advena and P. herbida. At sugar ; June. 



Cloantha conspicillaris. Rarely, flying ; May. 



Heliothis marginata. Rarely, at sugar ; June. 



Acontia luctuosa. Among clover, outside the wood ; June. 



