POctEITT: MOTHIXG AT ChATTENDEN. 



119 



As miglit be expected with so great variety of trees and underwood, 

 the Geometree are in great force, and beating for them in the broad 

 rides is easy and profitable work. One of the most interesting species 

 is the very local pretty little Acidalia riisticata. It does not occur in 

 the woods, but is in profusion on two short adjoining elm hedges at 

 Higham, close to the village, and indeed the first hedges on the way 

 from there to Chattenden. The moths are found sitting on the upper 

 sides of the elm leaves, but near the ground, and are so numerous 

 that five or six dozens may easily be collected in an hour or two any 

 fine day during the middle of July. I have hitherto tried in vain to 

 find its larva, and no one seems to know on what it feeds there, though 

 probably it is one or other of the low plants growing beneath the elm 

 bushes, or possibly on the ivy growing about the lower elm stems. In 

 confinement they are readily reared on knot grass, as are indeed almost 

 all the species of Acidalioe. In the woods the fine Angerona pruuaria 

 flies very freely, and the dark broad-banded variety seems almost as 

 common as the type. Scotosia veUlata is not uncommon ; as are also 

 very fine Cldaria picata ; and Todis vernaria flies about Clematis vUalba. 

 In May the delicate Corycia taminata is abundant, and a week or two 

 later is followed by its brother temerata — both of course about the 

 wild cherry trees. Other species of more or less interest are Onrop- 

 ieryx sambucata, Venila maculata, Earymene dolahra?'ia, Selenia illustraria, 

 Himera pennaria (larvae plentiful in May), Pseudopterpna cytisaria, 

 lodis lactearia, HemitJiea thymiaria common, Ephyra omicronaria 

 common about maple, E. punctaria, Asthena luteata and candidata, 

 Acidalia scutulata, bisetaia, interjectaria, incanaria, subsericeata, immutata, 

 remutata^ emutaria (before alluded to), and emarginata ; Timandra 

 <iinataria ; Strenia clatlirata, very common j Scoria dealhata ; Anisop- 

 ieryx cescularia, larvee in May ; various EupithecicB ; M.elanthia rubigi- 

 nata, very common; ocellata and albicillata Auticlea derivatUy 

 Coremia ferrugata, Cidaria corylata, pyraliata, and very fine Juhata ; 

 Eubolia mensuraria, bipunctaria, and pahmbaria. 



No doubt the Pseudo-Bombyces are fairly represented if worked for, 

 though I have only myself taken Notodonta camelina. The Xoctuse 

 are numerous, and include some nice species. Perhaps the most 

 interesting to me was Toxocampa pastinum, which occurs at sugar and 

 at flowers of Galium in July; but is best collected in the larva 

 state in May. It is then just about full-grown, and may be found 

 freely in the ash plantations at night wuth a lamp. The very 

 beautiful larvse are most conspicuous, and are usually seen feeding on 

 the top of the fragile Vicia plants ; or they may be found quite as 



