OBSERVED ITsT HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1903. 
115 
Mr. P. J. Barraud again furnishes an interesting list of captures 
at Bushey Pleath. He says : “ The season of 1903 was even worse 
than that of 1902. During the whole year Lepidoptera were con¬ 
spicuous by their absence, even the common species being seldom 
observed. As in the preceding year, the only attraction which was 
of any use during the summer months was ‘light,’ but nothing 
at all rare was taken. One specimen of the lesser lutestring 
( Asphalia diluta) came into the light-trap on September 23rd, and 
one pale-shouldered brocade ( Radena thalassina) on June 8th; 
these two are the only species which are new to my list for this 
locality. Of the other species taken in this way the following 
were the rarest, the earliest date of appearance of each species 
being placed in brackets after the name:— Notodonta dictceoides 
(July 19th), Pachnobia rubricosa (April 28th), Selenia lunaria , 
males (June 6th), Ifabrostola tripartita (June 12th), Bipterygia 
pinastri (June 30th), Gonoptera libatrix (March 21st), Luperina 
cespitis (August 30th), Plusia chrysitis (July 4th), Epione apiciaria 
(August 30th), Pericallia syringaria (July 16th), Rerminia tarsi - 
pennalis (July 9th), Aphomia sociella (July 4th), Or ambus perlellus 
(July 9th), Tortrix fosterana (June 29th), Penthina ochroleucana 
(July 9th). P. cynoshana (July 10th), Spilonota roscecolana (July 
4th), S. roborana, Pciaphila nubilana (July 7th), and Yponomeuta 
cognatella. Sugaring was practically useless until the Autumn, but 
the following were then taken in my garden with other commoner 
species:— Agrotis suffusa (October 3rd), A. segetum (October 3rd), 
Xanthia fulvago (September 12th), Meselia oxyacanthce (October 
17th), Hadena protea (September 13th), and Catocala nupta 
(September 12th). There is not much ivy-bloom in this district, 
and that was soon ruined by the heavy rains. The only species 
seen on it worth boxing was Orthosia maeilenta , of which I secured 
a few. Larvae of Triphcena fimbria were found in the early spring 
by searching in the garden with a lantern after dark. The moths 
emerged in June. On two occasions I cycled to the Tring district 
in quest of Lepidoptera, and met with very fair success. The first 
visit was on May 25th, when Tlianaos tages was the butterfly most 
in evidence, while only a single Syrichthus malvce was seen. Pier is 
napi, P. rap<z , P. brassiere , and Euchloe cardamines were also noted, 
and two Thecla rubi netted. Of the Heterocera I took Corremia 
ferrugata , Strenia clathrata , Xylopoda fabrieiana , and Eriopsela 
fractifasciana. On my second visit (July 25th and 26th) I was 
accompanied by Mr. T. F. Furnival, and considering the inclement 
weather we did fairly well. To us the most interesting find was 
Mimasoptilus phaodactiylus, which was locally common among small 
patches of Ononis spinosa. This little moth seems seldom to take 
wing by day unless disturbed, and requires to be carefully sought 
for amongst the shoots of the food-plant. M. pterodactylus was 
also taken in herbage ; it flies more freely by day than the 
preceding. By beating and searching the hedges, etc., we obtained 
Ephyra linearia ( tnlinearia ), Larentia pectinataria ( viridaria ), 
Cidana dotata ( pyraliata ), Eubolia bipunctaria , Botys hyalinalis , 
