1890. 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



97 



A SUMMER HOLIDAY IN NORTH DEVON, 



By A. W. BATTLEY. 



In July, 1889, I went for a stay at Ilfracombe, and as I had never 

 before collected in the West of England, I hoped to fill up several 

 blanks in my cabinet. 



Unfortunately, the time chosen for my trip coincided with the end 

 of the glorious summer weather which we had in June, and during 

 our journey down the rain descended in torrents, totally obscuring the 

 lovely scenery between Exeter and Barnstaple, for which Devonshire 

 is justly famous. 



On arriving at our destination, we hurried to our lodgings, and in 

 the evening wishing to gain some knowledge of the town, we muffled 

 up in mackintoshes and sallied out. Fortunately, I took the pre- 

 caution of putting a few boxes in my pocket, for, going round the 

 " Capstone" Parade, I noticed a specimen of B. perla at rest on the 

 rock. A further search revealed an abundance of this species, and 

 among them, five specimens of the rarer B. glandifera, which were 

 promptly boxed. 



Next day (Wednesday, 10th July) was showery and windy, but I 

 secured another Glandifera, one Repandata , and one Bipunctaria. The 

 last mentioned species appears to be darker than my specimens from 

 the chalk districts ; (Margate and Brighton) but as it was the only 

 one I secured during my stay, I cannot speak as to the general type 

 of this district. 



Thursday, nth July, was bright and warm, although a fresh 

 breeze was blowing. In the morning we walked up Hillsboro', an el- 

 evated headland close to the town. Here y antra were swarming, with 

 a good sprinkling of Semele, Pamphilns, Urticcs, and other common 

 things, while a solitary Stellatarum was dashing over the hillside, and 

 hovering over the wild thyme on the steep parts, thus eluding capture. 



In the afternoon we walked to Lee, by way of the coast. Here 

 were Charophyllata in large numbers, also H. sylvamis, Tithonus, 

 WMaas, and a couple of fine, freshly emerged Aglaia, which I secured. 

 The nettle beds were quite stripped by the full fed, black larvae of V. 

 to, which exceeded even V . urticce in numbers. Returning home in 

 the evening, we saw a splendid sunset from the top of Lee Down. 

 Very many common species of moths were flying, and when going 

 through the town, I took one each Prunata and Wavaria, which were 

 doing their best to escape over a wall. 



