Insects. 1225 



Meadows Yellow. 



Water Blue. 



Houses Ked. 



These six colours correspond in number to the six transverse spaces opposite to 

 each specific name, and the manner in which I would recommend the plan to be 

 brought into practice is this ; viz., at the end of every ten days, say on the 1st, 10th, 

 and 20th of each month the naturalist should review his captures, and having rubbed 

 a little of all six colours on a palette, with a camel-hair pencil proceed to touch the spaces 

 in the proper column for the ten preceding days, and opposite to the names of 

 the respective species with one or two more colours, accordingly as the species are 

 found in one or more kinds of localities. This, if repeated at the end of every ten days 

 throughout the year will produce an invaluable record, available for many purposes. 

 As a guide in future years for field operations it will be exceedingly useful, inasmuch 

 as it will be only necessary on any given day to pass the eye down the column proper 

 for that date, to see by the streaks of colour intersecting it, what species the ento- 

 mologist may hope to meet with, and what localities will prove most productive. In 

 the course of time, when a great number of observers shall have accumulated observa- 

 tions on some such plan as this, it would be indeed a treasure to have a set of sheets 

 printed in colours embracing the observations of naturalists in all parts of the country, 

 and giving a complete view of the seasonal appearances of our Fauna. I enclose 

 you a specimen-sheet filled up in colours. The periodical posting-up of this ledger of 

 nature would involve but little labour to those who are constantly in pursuit of insects, 

 and I am enabled by the accustomed liberality of Sir Oswald Mosley to place a set or 

 two at the service of any naturalist who is willing to undertake the task of keeping 

 accounts for Dame Nature, and who will apply to me, indicating at the same time 

 the channel through which he wishes them to be sent. The plan is obviously adapted 

 equally well for the registration of the period of flowering of plants. When bound up 

 these sheets form a handsome oblong-folio volume. — Edwin Brown; Burton-on- 

 Trent. 



Flowers which are particularly attractive to Moths. — Some interesting remarks have 

 appeared in ' The Zoologist ' (Zool. 1088), in reply to Mr. Hepburn's inquiries respect- 

 ing the flowers most attractive to " the pretty rovers of the night," as he pleasingly 

 designates the nocturnal Lepidoptera. And as the subject is one of much interest, I 

 beg to send you the result of my own observations in a locality much nearer to the 

 inquirer. Beginning with those which I have not yet seen noticed as attractive, I shall 

 mention. The Barberry, the golden blossoms of which are remarkably attractive to 

 Hadena plebeia, and from which I have also obtained Rusina ferruginea and Xylo- 

 phasia rurea. The Raspberry, which is very attractive while it lasts, and is visited by 

 Polia advena, Xylophasia rurea and combusta, Plusia chrysitis, &c. The Pansy, an 

 especial favourite with the genus Plusia : P. Iota, P. percontationis, P. Gamma, P. 

 chrysitis, and P. festucae, have been my captures from it, and it is remarkable that it 

 is almost entirely neglected by the other Noctuidae. The common Sage is very attrac- 

 tive in some seasons, more especially to Polia advena and Plusia Gamma. The Pink 

 is also an attractive flower, as are also the Privet and single Stock. The Candied tuft 

 has been noticed by Mr. Gaze. Among other moths which I have taken from it dur- 

 ing the past season may be mentioned Graphiphora renigera, G. Onigrum, and Cara- 

 drina plantaginis. Some other annuals, as Phacelia tanacetifolia and Gilia aggregata, 

 are also very attractive when sown in masses. From the Sweet William I have taken 

 IV 4 N 



