THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



191 



well as the top. This remark applies to very 

 many other families. 



(To be continued.) 



COLLECTING AT 

 HARTLEPOOL. 



By Johx E. Robson. 



As we ascend this hill, we find the i"ock rose 

 (Heli anthem urn vulgare) in great profusion, its 

 yellow flowers brightening the sward. On 

 this feeds the larvae of P. geryon. In my early 

 days this had not been separated from 

 Statices, and many a puzzled search I had for 

 sorrel, the food-plant of the latter species, 

 and which I could not find, though the in- 

 sect swarmed. On this hill-side the larva 

 may be found in May, or the imago later. 

 The larva is subject to the attacks of an 

 ichneumon, whose name I do not yet know, 

 as my specimens were destroyed in the post 

 when on their way for identification. The 

 stricken larva crawls up a tall grass stem, 

 and fixes itself there to die, its destroyer not 

 emerging for some time after. This insect is 

 most abundant here, and at many other spots 

 further along the coast, It flies only in the 

 hot sun, but may be taken later in the after- 

 noon at rest among the grass or on flowers, 

 by those whose eyes are educated enough to 

 recognise the green insect among the green 

 grass. Near the top of this hill the kidney 

 vetch (Antliyllis vulneraria) grows rather freely, 

 and here we used to take Lyccenx Alsus, but I 

 have seen none recently. Lyccena Agestis, or 

 medon, as it is now called, is abundant, and 

 we not only get the so-called Durham Argus 

 (L. Salmacis), but the Scotch form (L. Ar- 

 taxevxes) also. This larva feeds also on the 

 rock rose, and is not very easily found, but 

 from five I was enabled to send Mr. Buckler, 

 he was fortunate enough to breed all three 

 forms, proving to a certainty that they had 

 no specific difference. L. Alexis (/cants) is 

 common of course, and I only name it because 



I have frequently obtained the variety ican'niis 

 here. This differs from the type in having no 

 spots on the upper side of fore wing, between 

 the base of the wing and the central spot, and it 

 is easy to recognise, as it sits asleep on flowers 

 in the evening. S. Seinele is abundant towards 

 the top of the hills, sitting almost invariably 

 on the bare ground. ,S'. Tithonus is abundant 

 also, and seems to prefer the neighbourhood 

 of brambles. For some distance the rocks 

 are not high, and the banks slope down to the 

 sea. This has been formed into valleys and 

 projecting banks by the action of water, and 

 all along is good collecting ground. Juniper 

 grows freely, and from it may be beaten the 

 larvae of E. sbbrinata and T. simulata, or later 

 on the Derfect insect. On the grassy banks 

 one of our greatest prizes is to be found, 

 M. cxpolita. First found by Mr. Sang at 

 Darlington, and afterwards at Castle Eden- 

 dene ; we take it here not uncommonly, It 

 flies briskly in the afternoon sun among the 

 grass, in the stems of which the larva feeds. 

 Its time of appearance — the end of July — is 

 often a rainy season here, and many a weary 

 trudge have I had along the sand and shingle 

 of the coast, only to find the day change by 

 the time I reached the place, and the clouds 

 begin to discharge their contents on my un- 

 fortunate person. When the day has been 

 propitious, I have often taken twenty or 

 thirty specimens in an afternoon. Once I 

 took a pair in cop, and got eggs, which I sent 

 Mr. Buckler, but though he got the larvze 

 through the winter, he did not rear the insect, 

 which as yet has not been bred. C . plantaginis 

 is common here, and in the larva state, B. 

 quercus, or whatever our species may be. 

 The larva hybernates one winter, and passes 

 the second in pupa, and we only see the insect 

 in alternate years. On the top of the bank, 

 E. palumbaria and A. plagiata, are the only 

 species worth naming. I have spent so much 

 time on my favourite ground that I must not 

 i keep you long at Black Hall rocks, but we will 

 commence again near the Cemetery, and walk 

 up the railway bank to Hart station. This is 



