Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/362

334 {|
 * Euthalia miata ||Thera variata ||Oporabia dilutata
 * Ctesias spartiata || coniferata
 * }
 * Ctesias spartiata || coniferata
 * }

Note on the appearance of Moths during rain. In recording the capture of Nyssia hispidaria (Zool. 176), Mr. Edleston says that he "captured forty-five males and eight females, notwithstanding it rained incessantly," thereby implying that such weather is unfavourable. Now it is well known to the old London collectors, and this may be the means of making it known to others, that a warm rain, particularly after drought, is exceedingly favourable to the development of moths from the pupa state, and they rarely omit, on such occasions, to search for them. I have seen dozens captured from palings during and after rain, where previously not one was to be seen.—J.W. Douglas; Coburg Road, Kent Road, August, 1843.

Note on the capture of Xanthia Xerampelina, at Crambe, near York. On Saturday, the 26th of August, as I was getting out of my gig to open a gate between Crambe and Howsham, I saw a moth lying on its back in the road; on picking it up, it proved to be a fair specimen of the centre-barred sallow (Xanthia Xerampelina), dead but not stiff. I know of but one other specimen captured in this neighbourhood, and that was five or six years ago, by Mr. Cook, at Langwith, near this city, who saw another the same day, but lost it. A specimen was taken about 1826 or 1827, at Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire, by the Rev. R.P. Alington.—Beverley R. Morris, M.D.; York, September 2, 1843.

Note on the capture of Calocampa vetusta, at Birch wood, and also at Hammersmith. I had the pleasure of taking a fine specimen of this rare moth at the sugar, at Birch wood, a few days back; and on the same evening, and at the same time (half past 8), my mother took a specimen at the same bait in our garden at Hammersmith. I little expected to meet with it in our neighbourhood. I may also mention among other things that I took at Birch wood, on the same evening, six specimens of Charaeas fusca, plenty of Xanthia fulvago and flavago, and one of the variety known until recently as gilvago, as well as abundance of Ceropacha diluta: and on the week previous, I took two of Segetia neglecta.—Samuel Stevens; 38, King St., Covent Garden, September 19, 1843.

Note on the Dates of Appearance of some Lepidopterous Insects at Teignmouth. Owing to the mild spring, insects appeared this year much earlier than they usually do; for instance, I took the female of Pontia Cardamines on the 8th of April; on the 9th, Polyommatus Argiolus, male; 10th, the last day of the continuance of warm weather, Hipparchia Ægeria, Pontia Rapæ, P. Cardamines, Vanessa Iö and V. Urticæ were plentiful during the morning and warmer parts of the day, but in the evening there was a fall of snow, which lasted with intermissions for about a week, of course, interrupting their appearance for a time. May 4th, Lozotænia trifasciana. June 1st, Spilonota rusticana; this insect may always be found where there is plenty of Tussilago Farfara, which I suppose the larva feeds on; 10th, Pterophorus trigonodactylus, Pt. carphodactylus, Botys borealis, on the cliffs at Teignmouth; 20th, Eudorea angustea, this insect is double-brooded, appearing again in September and October; 28th, Pterophorus lunadactylus, the larva of this insect feeds on Ononis arvensis, on the heads of which plant it may generally be found, it is green and slightly hairy; Eudorea pallida, a double-brooded insect, appearing at the same time as E. angustea. July 14th, Augerona prunaria, the male of this insect often puts on the garb of the female, and vice versâ; the female is often of a light yellow-ochre colour, instead of orange, and much larger than the male, which may always be known by its pectinate antennæ; a