4814 Insects. 



never questioned till the Editor of the ' Zoologist ' thought he had discovered — a mare's 

 nest. — H. T. Stainton ; Mountsfield, Lewisham, July 1 1 , 1855. 



Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa in North Wales. — On the 30th of last June T saw a 

 fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa near Llyn Ogwen, Caernarvonshire, North Wales, 

 but did not secure it. — Samuel Price ; 44, Bell Barn Road, Birmingham, August 4, 

 1855. 



List of a few rare Lepidoptera captured in Wales. — I have collected during the 

 greater part of the last three summers in this valley, and, as very few Welch localities 

 have appeared in the 'Zoologist, 1 have sent a short list of some of my rarer captures, 

 and hope that as a small contribution towards abetter knowledge of the entomological pro- 

 ductions of the principality it will be acceptable. I have no doubt that, if thoroughly 

 wofked, Wales would prove quite as rich in novelties, for its extent, as Scotland has 

 done. 



Trochilium sphegiforme. In June, 1854, I bred a female of this fine insect, and 

 took three males at liberty ; and in July this year I had again the good fortune to meet 

 with it. 



Luperina furva. Many specimens came to sugar from the middle to the end of 

 July this year, all males. In 1853 I took several off the flowers of Scabiosa colum- 

 baria, from the middle to the end of August, all females. 



Spaelotis cataleuca, Agrotis Ashworthii. Both came to sugar during July. They 

 appear to be exclusively attached to the limestone, and are rather local there. I took 

 a single specimen of the latter species on the 20th of July, 1853, about a mile from 

 the nearest limestone, but have not since met with one even on trees only a few yards 

 off. They seem to secrete themselves during the day amongst the loose, broken stones 

 lying at the foot of the rocks, and are very much infested with a scarlet Acarus. Two 

 females of Ashworthii laid eggs in the ropes : these were at first of a pale straw-colour, 

 but on the fourth day changed to a delicate flesh tint, and assumed a dark pink spot 

 at the apex, and a zone of the same colour round the middle. 



Agrotis corticea is common in the' same locality as the last, but has a much more 

 extended range. I have taken it, but sparingly, in other parts of the valley. 



Cerigo cytherea, Rusina tenebrosa, Noctua triangulum, Neuria Saponariae, &c. 

 All at sugar, in July. 



Xylina rhizolitha. At sugar, October. 



Harpalyce picaria. By beating hazel, beginning of July. 



Homeosoma eluviella. At sugar, July 19. 



Tinea semifulvella. By beating oak, May 18, July 16. 

 „ rufiraetrella. By beating hawthorn, July. 



Micropteryx Leppella. Common in June. 



Nemotois Scabiosellus. I have several times seen the female in the position men- 

 tioned by Mr. Stainton, her abdomen thrust down amongst the florets of Scabiosa 

 columbaria, and her wings lying expanded on the top of the flower ; but have failed 

 to detect either eggs or larvae. 



Cerostoma sequella. By beating Acer campestre, in September. 



Cleodora Cytisella. Common amongst brake, July and August. 



CEcophora grandis. Not uncommon in the end of May and June, in one fence 

 composed, like most of them in this neighbourhood, of a mixture of dead and living 

 hazel ; in this one, however, mixed with some dead birch. They fly only in warm 

 sunshine, from 10 a. m. to 1 : when the sun is off the fence they cannot be made to fly. 



