202 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



until the early morning when it was rather sharp. So pleased was I with my 

 experience on this occasion, that I repeated the experiment the following 

 week — this time alone — and I think I never spent a more enjoyable night. 

 Lepidoptera were in great profusion, and I had the pleasure of finding an 

 " assemblage " of Pericallia syringaria. It was extremely interesting to watch 

 the succession of males which came up the glade, and hovered round the bush 

 in which the female was situated. It was then about 1 a.m., and, of course, 

 the insects could only be seen against the sky, unless with the aid of a lantern. 

 I had to leave them in order to examine my sugar, which was only sparingly 

 visited during the night, but was extensively patronised about day-break. 

 Three species, viz., Batis, Berasa, and Hepatica continued their visits after 

 day-break. This was at Chingford, and about 4 a.m. I started to walk home, 

 arriving in ample time for breakfast, and feeling not any the worse for my 

 night out. 



Since then I have regularly spent nights in Epping Forest, sometime alone, 

 at others accompanying the organised Natural History expeditions (frequently 

 extending over two or three days), arranged by the members of the Associa- 

 tion to which I belong. By this method we were enabled to push further 

 into the interior of the Eorest, and make observations on many species, which, 

 before I tried night collecting, were complete mysteries to me. 



My object in writing these notes is to bring my experience before brother 

 entomologists, and should any take my advice, and try the experiment them- 

 selves next year, they will find that I have in no way exaggerated the good 

 results that may be obtained during a night in the woods. — Reprinted from 

 " Natural History Research : a Monthly Record of Natural Science" issued 

 for private circulation only. 



THE ORIGIN OF APTEROUS FEMALES. 



By C. B. CROSS. 



This particular group of moths has been my favourite study for some years 

 past, and I have lost no opportunity of observing the habits of those occur- 

 ing in this locality, viz., H. defoliaria, C. brumata, E. progemmaria, and P, 

 pilosaria. The first two appear on the approach of winter, the latter two on 

 the approach of spring. My opinion is that the females are now as orginally 

 formed, and that nothing has resulted from any malformation. Brumata and 

 progemmaria have rudimentary wings; defoliaria and pilosaria have not even 

 a stump, nor the slightest evidence there has ever been one. I have never 

 seen the first two make the slightest attempt to use the little wings they have. 



