246 
PROCEEDINGS OP THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OP NATURAL SCIENCE. 
the hill, but lead us to anticipate that its insect treasures will 
alike be varied. 
The first four months of our sojourn (i.e., November, Decem¬ 
ber, January, and February) we shall meet with our winter 
insects, and shall probably find all the members belonging to 
the genera Hybernia, Anisopteryx, and Clieimatobia. What 
is most to be noted about these insects is, the females are 
all either entirely wingless or their wings are in a rudimentary 
condition, forbidding them the power of aerial motion. It is 
rather remarkable that (excepting the Psychidas) all the Lepi- 
doptera whose females are apterous, pass their perfect state 
during the whole or a portion of our winter. Disuse was no 
doubt the cause of the loss of these organs, but the distribution 
of these insects would seem to carry this change a long way back 
in time. With the advance of the year our work will increase. 
During March and April we may during the day search carefully 
the tree-trunks. If there are any solitary wanderers on the hill, 
we may expect our zeal will arouse their curiosity. J suppose, 
from the way they either watch or seem to shun one, that they 
must imagine anyone so interested in examining the trees must 
have escaped from some place of restraint. Consoling ourselves 
that we have become martyrs to science, we may expect that the 
prosecution of our search will reward us with, at least, not a few 
of Diurneci fagella with its semi-winged lady. In the sunshine 
another Tinea, Exapate congelatella may be boxed in numbers. 
On the birch trees one or more solitary specimens may be 
obtained of Asphalia flavicornis. At night, on lighting our 
lamp, the first visitor will probably be Larentia multistrigaria ; 
and by searching among the grass we may possibly find those 
pretty geometers, Anticlea badiata and A. nigrofasciaria, as 
well as the commoner Repressaria ocellella. The sallows will 
now be fully out, and on a mild evening we may expect to find 
many insects that have “ sped to the lure.” 
Selecting a bush that can easily be worked, we spread a large 
sheet underneath it. On giving the bush a shake, great will be 
our delight to see such an assemblage of insects lying on our 
sheet. It is, however, sad to have to relate that they are all in 
au incapable condition. Unlike some unfortunates, they soon 
recover, and will make off unless.we quickly make them secure. 
Amongst them are some of the newly-emerged members of the 
genus Tceniocampa, with the rarer Panoplis piniperda, as well 
as some of those species which have endured the cold of winter 
in their perfect state. With the advent of May, a careful search 
should be instituted on the open parts among blaeberry, for one 
of our earliest butterflies, the little green Hairstreak (Tliecla 
rubi). 
I am sorry to say that of late years this little butterfly has 
become very scarce on the hill compared with what it used to be 
some years ago. Inspection of the trunks of the larch trees 
will doubtless produce Tephrosia crepuscularia, and Cidaria 
suffumata will be netted on the wing. In the bright sunshine, 
flying up and down around a beach or birch, the pretty little 
Adela viridella, with its long antennee, may sometimes be 
netted in good numbers. The members of the genus Kotodonta 
will now be emerging from the pupae, as well as the two repre¬ 
sentatives of the genus IHcranura (vimda and furcxda). 
Among the former I have taken the eggs or larvte of dictceoides, 
camelina, and dromedarius. Gur evenings may be employed 
looking for the larvae of many of the Noctute, which, being nearly 
full fed, will give us but little trouble, and from which we may 
expect to rear some fine imagines. In June we shall find among 
the oaks such insects as Zonosma punctaria (commonly called 
“ The Maiden’s Blush”), Boarmia repandata, and at rest on the 
trunks an odd Aplecta nebxdosa, as well as an occasional Kola 
confusalis. Of Micros, the oaks, too, will yield us the bright and 
showy though abundant Gracilaria alchimiella, and also the 
long-horned Nemophora Swammerdamella. The larches and 
firs give Thera variata, Eupithecia lariciata, and Coccyx Her- 
cyniana. 
July will bring the crisis of our work, and we can find 
employment collecting from early morning to late at night. 
One butterfly should be looked for; it is Pararge Egeria, a scarce 
butterfly with us. I never took but one example, on the side 
of the hill beyond the old castle. Dr Buchanan White tells me 
he has taken it in two places on this side, but it has always been 
a rare insect here. By beating the oaks we may dislodge Metro- 
camp a margaritata, Crocalis elingxiaria, and Calymnia 
trapezina, — the cannabilistic propensities of the larvae of the 
two last named making them dreaded foes in that stage. The 
little Tortrix viridana often becomes very destructive to the 
oaks, The birches will reward our beating with two Tinere, 
Swamnnerdammia griseocapitella and the metallic-striped Argy- 
resthia brochella, Hawthorn will produce Argyresthia nitidella, 
and firs Stigmonota coniferana, Retinia pinivorana, as well as 
the rather rare Cedestis Gysselinella. With the approach of 
darkness we may make our way to the top of the hill, and by 
the light of our lanterns obtain a good series of Gnophes 
obscuraria and Dasydia obfuscaria. August will bring out in 
large force the Noctua, among them such species as Hydroecia 
micacea, Koctua baia, K, neglecta, and Mania typica, as 
well as the underwings (Triphcena). Her these and many 
others we may now try, with every confidence of success, sugar¬ 
ing the trees. During the sunshine, near the cliffs and upon the 
open parts at the top of the hill, the grayling butterfly (Satyrus 
sexnele) will be found abundantly. September and October will 
bring us such different insects as Cidaria miata and Chesias 
spartiata, Eimera pennaria, and Agriopis aprilina, Lemna- 
tophila phryganella and Peronea femxgana, as well as members 
of that difficult genus Oporabia. 
Most of the insects I have mentioned hitherto can be obtained 
almost any year, and I would now like to say a few words 
upon some insects which have occurred on the hill, and are, 
therefore, included in the list I append to this paper, but 
which for many years have disappeared. The most prominent 
is the Wall Brown butterfly (Pararge Megcera). This insect 
used to be found commonly on the road to Kinuoull, but 
has not been seen since 1S60. On looking up Newman, I 
find he quotes Dr Buchanan White upon its extinction in 
Perthshire thus:—“It was formerly common near Perth; he 
has heard of no specimen being taken since 1S60, in which 
year it was common. The series of cold summers follow¬ 
ing that year seem to have destroyed the species, though pos- 
