PoERiTT : Five Days in East Sussex. 



181 



cam,pestris not unfrequently ; the pretty Orchis tistulata was also 

 common. On nearing Eastbourne an extensive piece of waste ground, 

 overgrown with the white campion Lychnis yielded some Strenia 

 clathrata ; we could not help thinking what a fine spot it would be 

 for the Dianthoecia in the eveliing, or for their larvae in the Autumn. 

 On Beachy Head we were pleased to find the lovely " Bhie," Lycoena 

 Adonis tolerably common, though evidently only just getting well out. 

 Crambus chrysoniichellus occurred on the same spot. An immense 

 field of saintfoin was "alive" with the pretty but common Lycoena 

 Alexis^ there were hundreds upon hundreds of them flitting about 

 everywhere. " Hereby hangs a tale," which for our Entomological 

 credits' sake had better not be divulged ! 



Next day we visited the wood, and again filled our boxes with a 

 large assortment of insects, mostly of course species we had taken on 

 our previous visits ; in addition however Nola cristulalis occurred, and 

 the beautiful Mdanippe hastata was flying over the birches, Mr. Tugwell 

 was fortunate enough to find a lot of larvge of the local Teihea retusa 

 along with those oi Epuivla viminalis on sallow. The larvte of these 

 two species are very similar, but that of Reiiisa may be distinguished 

 from its having a black or dark coloured head, whilst the head of 

 Viminalis is nearly white. The fine larva of Lasiocampa quercifolla 

 was also taken this day ; and those of Odonestes potatoria were noticed 

 on the grass. Whilst beating the bushes a bird flew out of the 

 underwood close to Mr. Daltry's feet, when a search soon revealed 

 the nest and five pretty olive eggs of the nightingale ( Philomela 

 luscinia) ; the nest was composed almost entirely of dead oak and 

 beech leaves. It generally took us about four hours to work through 

 the wood, by which time we were ready to avail ourselves of the 

 advantages of a " Pub " which was situated " conveniently " at the 

 far end. Here we spent about twenty minutes comparing notes and 

 captures, over our bread and cheese and beer, some of our party even 

 deeming a " smoke still more refreshing ! After this we always 

 worked homewards. About six o'clock this day tlie first rain we 

 had had since we left home, fell, and the moon being overcast at 

 night more insects were taken at sugar than on any previous evening, 

 though the only additional species to those already taken were 

 Acronycta leporina and Aceris. The beautiful Diphthera Orion was a 

 plentiful visitor to the trees last year, but this week we laid our bait 

 for it in vain ; probably it was not yet out. 



Next morning, Saturday, Mr. Daltry and I most reluctantly left 



