276 REPORTS. 



most of my days at Pleinmont, and so was able to compare 

 the insects of 1916 with those of 1915 — in the same locality 

 and at the same dates. 



Without exception, I think, every species even the 

 commonest, was less abundant this summer. The early 

 mornings and evenings were very cold though the days 

 were fine the wind, generally from N.E., often high. In 

 June there were many days of fog lasting till late afternoon. 

 In August and September the weather was more favourable, 

 but insect life had suffered from the exceptional drought 

 during the feeding time of larvae. The military restrictions 

 in the use of lights still remained a hindrance to night 

 collecting. But notwithstanding drawbacks there are few 

 interesting captures to note, two species not hitherto recorded 

 for Guernsey, and others of such rare occurrence in the island 

 as to deserve a place in your annual report. 



My two new discoveries consist of one Eupithecia or Pug, 

 and one Noctita. The former Eupithecia siibfulvata was taken 

 in the lane connecting the Castel Church with the Foulon 

 on August 5th. It is generally reputed common in England. 



The second novelty, Erastria fasciata (fuscula), was 

 more of a surprise. I beat it out of a hawthorn hedge 

 above, and a little to the west of Petit Bot, on July 28th. 

 This was rather a late date for this species, which is 

 somewhat a local insect. I have taken it constantly in 

 the New Forest and also on the continent, but always in 

 woods, especially among fir trees. Its food plant, Purple 

 Melic-grass (Molinia coerulea), is stated in Marquand's 

 "Flora of Guernsey" to be rare, but "the cliffs towards 

 Corbiere" are mentioned as a locality where it grows. 



Of things not new, but worthy of observation, the 

 pretty little orange-tip butterfly, EucliVde cardamhics, arrived 

 first. The lucky captor was Amyat, the little son of Mr. 

 Bullock, Woodhayes, Amherst. This young collector gives 

 promise of making a keen entomologist. The specimen was 

 taken in the fields of Beausejour. The only other reported 

 capture is one taken by the late Mr, Luff in 1893, at 

 Grande Mare, in which year I also saw a specimen in the 

 Ramee Road. As its food plants are abundant here, and 

 the butterfly is widely spread and mostly common in England, 

 it is somewhat strange that it should not be among our 

 indigenous insects. 



On July 14th I took a freshly emerged female of 

 Nola Albula at Les Tielles, Forest. Only one other of this 

 always rare moth has been taken in Guernsey, a male— which 

 is also in my cabinet. 



