Insects. 3689 



With such an extent and variety of sea-bord as Great Britain pos- 

 sesses, forming the habitat of a Flora corresponding in diversity, I 

 presumed long ago that there would be a Fauna of insects unknown 

 inland, and have never ceased to urge the examination of our coasts ; 

 and every year's experience tends to confirm the impression that this 

 is the field on which the laurels of our collectors are to be acquired. 

 The greater part of the recent additions to our lists is composed of 

 captures made by the sea-side, and such success should stimulate us 

 to devote more time to a careful examination thereof. Mr. Wollaston 

 (Zool. 3616) speaks disparagingly of the coasts of Devon and Corn- 

 wall, as far as regards Coleoptera, and on this Order there is no better 

 authority ; but no one has hunted there for Lepidoptera or other Or- 

 ders, as he has for his favourites; and it may be that some new or rare 

 species are waiting for the keen eye of a collector who knows how to 

 seek them. There is a great deal more in such knowledge than is 

 generally believed, although I grant a lucky chance or felicitous com- 

 bination of circumstances may do more for a collector than the great- 

 est acumen or industry without them. But such adventitious aids 

 may happen to a collector of the right stamp, as well as to one of the 

 negative character : the one first requisite is to be on the spot. I 

 wish therefore to impress upon all who go to the sea-side, the cer- 

 tainty that there are daily within their reach species that would glad- 

 den the eyes of many besides themselves, if they will only work for 

 them. Many species already found on the coast are unknown to the 

 Continent, and it cannot but be supposed that several other new 

 things are yet undetected. The eastern and southern coasts seem the 

 most prolific, but that may be because they have been most frequented, 

 and no place should be given up until it has been tried at all seasons. 

 If no perfect insects are found, yet larvae, particularly those of Micro- 

 Lepidoptera, may be discovered, and the light-houses will well repay 

 frequent visits for the Noctuae and Geometrae attracted to them. 



The following is a select list of species which have almost exclu- 

 sively been taken on the coast in various parts. 

 Pieris Daplidice Mamestra albicolon 



Pamphila Actaeon „ abjecta 



Chcerocampa Celerio Spaelotis praecox 



„ Nerii „ cataleuca 



Deilephila Euphorbia? Agrotis lunigera 



Lithosia pygmaeola „ obelisca 



Lasiocampa Trifolii „ Ripae 



Leucania littoralis . Heliophobus hispida 



X. 3c 



