1867.) 159 
CapUires of Lepidoptera at light, Sfc — Several additions have lately been made 
to our captures at light here. Lovely specimens of E. tilia/ria figure in the list 
prominently ; and I can assure any one who doubts the pleasures of lamp-scaling 
that it is no small satisfaction to bring down a specimen of this beautiful " thorn" 
from its elevation. My brother secured two fine males oi fuscmitaria, both in situ- 
ations so disagreeably public as to furnish a very apt illustration of the motto 
consolingly quoted in the " Manual," — " quo plus difficultatis, eo plus honoris." C. 
fl/wviata has proved a constant friend ; and, besides some well-preserved males, I 
secured a female — which furnished me with another brood of larvae. The allurements 
of light brought C. nupta, H. micacea and nictitans, H. chenopodii, N. C-nigrum, A. 
lunosa, T. hatis, C. graminis, C. difmis, and H. rostralis, not within oui- reach, but 
into climbing range. For the first time in my lamp experience P. lignata put in 
an appearance, and on a lamp close by I found E. porata, E. pumilata, and C. 
pinetellus. L. dictaia fell to the lot of a friend, and P. advenella made a sort of 
balance thereto in my list. P. costalis and P. stratiotata, which are both common 
species in this district, studded the lamps pretty freely on every favourable night. 
Our first experience of E. fuscantaria this year was by no means cheering. 
We had taken very little, and were returning home : the way was long, and the 
wind somewhat cold. A lamp exceptionally tall and thin presented itself, evidently 
with an occupant. With difficulty it was swarmed ; and, nicely perched in the 
angle between two bars, was a fresh specimen of fuscantaria. Its position was 
impregnable : no pill-box could enter the niche ; and so we " tried each art, 
reproved each dull delay," and finally dislodged him with a push that sent him out 
of sight, and we saw him no more. 
Early in the season I took H. W-latinum at rest on palings, and the beautiful 
little D. oliviella in the same position ; P. rugosana, A. cnicana, and L. Smeath- 
manniana flying at dusk, and D. salicella by day. Tethea subtusa was brought to 
me a few days since from some poplars in the garden, and A. tritici feebly repre- 
sented the aristocracy among a host of plebeian xanthographa the other night at 
sugar. — J. B. Blackburn, Grassmeade, Southfields, lUh September, 1867. 
Worcestershire captures and species bred m 1867, with notes. — The passing 
season has been the worst for Lepidoptera I ever remember ; almost every species 
having been scarce. The cold rainy spring destroyed many larvae, and the appearance 
of insects generally has been much retarded. For those who are interested, I beg 
permission to render the following account of some of the species captured. C. 
miata (hybernated), L. hexapterata (11), H. barbalis, A. Baumanniana, L. sinapis, 
A. Selene, T. extersaria (5) — I obtained eggs, the larvse fed up, and are in pupse ; 
they vary much in the ground colour, from bright green to dark brown ; R. tximidella, 
C. bistrigella, E. porata, E. punctaria, 0. nupta, X. pariana, and L. cineraria. I 
have taken many of the latter in several seasons, in two localities, but I have 
never met with L. nisella in either of them. I consider them to be totally distinct. 
(See Stainton's Manual.) 
Sugar has failed remarkably — perhaps on account of the scarcity of insects. 
I have sugared on three or four nights every week throughout the season, but have 
only captured the following thereat that are worth naming, viz. : — H. genista; (3), 
H. suasa (2), A. lunosa (6), A. saucia, X, semibriinnea, X. rhizolitha, and C. exoleta, 
all of which were in fine condition. 
