NOTES ON COLLECTING, ETC. 
237 
and we only got one which was taken with the net while hovering about 
a tree. Later on we got Noctua rhomboidea^ Arnphipyra pyrainidea^ 
one Selenia illustraria and Cosmia trapezina. A terrific fall of rain 
next day put a stop to our operations, but we got one Triphcena 
ianthina which flew into our sitting-room at the Crown Hotel. For- 
tunately the evening of the 21st was fine and hot. Catocala sponsa 
came freely to sugar, and we got some grand specimens, as well as one 
C. promissa, more Arnphipyra pyramidea^ Noctua rhoinboidea^ Mania 
maura, etc. I also saw several Thyatira baits and netted one in very 
fair condition. The evening’s work brought our visit to a close, and 
we left next morning, having made a fair number of captures in tlie 
Forest, considering the wet weather and the short time at our disposal. 
— E. G. Alderson, Worksop, Notts. 
Berkshire. — During August and the first fortnight of September I 
worked for lepidoptera at West Woodhay, near Newbury. The result 
was not altogether unsatisfactory after the poor sport of last year. 
Sugar did not pay until September, when Xanthia citrago, X. fulvago 
{cerago), X. flavago {siiago), X. circellaris { ferruginea), Gonoptera libatrix^ 
together with a good number of commoner insects came pretty freely. 
Luperina cespitis came well to light. Altogether 20 examples of this 
insect were taken in my moth trap. Other insects taken by this means 
were numbers of Neuronia popularis, HydrcBcia nictitans., Noctua rubi, 
and N umbrosa, a few Charezas graminis and Epione apiciaria., Xanthia 
flavago {silago) and i Asphalia diluta, with plenty of commoner insects. 
Is it not unusual for A. diluta and X. silago to be attracted to light ? 
I had never taken them in this way before. Triphosa dubitata was one 
of the commonest insects, appearing in scores. Sunflowers proved 
attractive to many species. Among others taken upon them being 
Cioaria russaia^ Triphosa dubitata, Hydrczcia micacea, H. nictitans, 
Noctua rubi, N. c-nigrum, N xanthographa. Triphcena pronuba, T cotnes 
{orbona), T. ianthina, Plusia gatnma, and Phlogophora meticulosa. Only 
one Triphoena interjecta was taken, and that at light. The only insect 
new to the district was Plusia festucce, of which I found a pupa upon 
cut grass in a water-meadow near Hungerford. Larvae of Sphinx 
ligustri, Chcerocampa elpenor, Stnerinthus populi and Macroglossa fuci- 
formis (the latter by Miss Kimber) were the only representatives of the 
Sphingidae found. Catocala nupta, together with a host of others, for 
the most part unrecognisable corpses, fell a victim to the allurements 
of a bottle of beer and sugar intended to catch wasps, of which we 
have had a perfect plague this season. — J. H. D. Beales, Beech Hurst, 
Poole. September zflh, 1891. 
Sphinx convolvuli at Clevedon. — I captured my first Sphinx 
convolvuli last night (a fine $ ), at the flowers of the tobacco plant 
{Nicotiana ajflnis), and saw a second. This insect is a little later than 
usual this season. Does the species breed in this country ? One 
would conclude that it does from the fine condition of the specimens 
taken so far west. I did not see a single specimen last season, although 
I watched diligently. — J. Mason, Clevedon Court Lodge, Somerset. 
August 2flh, 1891. 
Abundance of Larv^. — 1 suppose the abnormal abundance of 
larvae of common species in our apologies for gardens in the 
suburban districts is general. My garden is kept for entomological 
