Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/268

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A HISTORY OF CORNWALL for Cornwall. Several examples of D. lineata were seen, and one taken over rhododendrons in Mount Edgcumbe Park, June, 1870, by W. J. Sturt (E. M. M. vii, no). One specimen was captured at Truro by A. P. Nix in the late sixties. One was taken by Mr. Sanders on Pennance Hill, Falmouth (fide W. P. Cocks), one at Mawnan (J. D. Enys), and one at Penzance by E. P. Marquand. In 1905 several were recorded from the county. D. euphorbiae is a rare casual in Cornwall ; it has been recorded by Cocks from Pendower Sands and by E. P. Marquand from the Penzance district, and is said to have been seen at Scilly. D. galii was first recorded from the county by J. R. Reading. On 26 August, 1870, an example was taken at Wendron by H. Anstey (E. M. M. vii, 139), and a worn specimen was captured at Paul in 1892. Sphinx ligustri is of frequent occurrence all over Cornwall. S. convolvuli is taken in the county almost every year, but is usually very scarce. In certain seasons, like 1887, 1900, and 1901, it is abundant almost everywhere. In 1887 H. W. Vivian counted about forty specimens in worn condition at the flowers of Nicotiana affinis. It puts in an occasional appearance at Scilly, and H. Harpur Crewe reports it as common when he was collecting there. Though the species is not usually resident Baily says that larvae had been brought to him by boys on several occasions, and in 1901 they were frequently found in the Truro-Falmouth district and at Hayle. Acherontia atropos, the Death's Head moth, is widely spread throughout the county, and is by no means uncommon. At Scilly it is of frequent occurrence. Larvae are frequently brought in from the potato-fields for identification. Smerinthus popull^ though never common, is widely spread, and has been taken near Launceston, Altarnun, Plymouth, Liskeard, Bodmin, Newquay, Truro, Falmouth and Penzance. S. ocellatus is not taken so frequently, and does not appear to be so widely spread ; it has been recorded from Bude, Plymouth district, Liskeard, Bodmin, Falmouth, Penzance and Lelant. Dllina tiliae is evidently limited to the east of the county, where it has been taken at Calstock and Mount Edgcumbe. NOTODONTIDAE A young larva of Pygaera pigra was found by Atmore on dwarf sallow at Madron. Notodonta ziczac is not uncommon but somewhat local in East Cornwall, and has been recorded from Bude, Newquay and Penzance. N. dromedarius was fairly plentiful about Kilkhampton in 1901, but otherwise represented by solitary specimens taken at Millook, Launceston, Calstock and Liskeard. Drymonia dictaeoides has been taken once at Mount Edgcumbe and once at Looe. D. tremula is also very scarce, but was taken in 1904 at Saltash and Calstock, and had previously been recorded from Looe, Bodmin, West Cornwall, and doubtfully from Newquay. D. trepida has been obtained at Kilkhampton, Stratton, Millook, Launceston, Mount Edgcumbe, Doublebois and Bodmin, but is apparently a very scarce insect, as not more than twenty specimens are recorded during the last forty years. D. trimacula was taken in July, 1903, at Mount Edgcumbe. D. chaonia was taken at light near Millook in 1902, and had previously been reported from North Hill. Stauropus fagi has been recorded from Mount Edgcumbe, Antony Park, Liskeard and Withiel. One specimen of Ptilophora plumigera was taken by Thomas at Liskeard and is now in the Truro collection. Pterostoma palpina is sparingly spread over the east and south-east of the county, but does not seem to have been taken west of Bodmin. Odontosia camelina is equally scarce and has evidently a similar range. Centra vinula is widespread, and in some seasons common ; it has been frequently obtained at Scilly. C. bifida has been taken near Altarnun, at Liskeard, and Madron. Vivian records an old cocoon from Bosahan. C. furcula is also very scarce, but has been taken neat Altarnun, at Landulph and Mount Edgcumbe. Phalera bucephala is widespread, and often common, but though frequently found in the larval stage on oak and elm is rarely in sufficient quantity to do much damage. SATURNIADAE Saturnia pavonia is widely distributed, but very variable in numbers. It was common in 1901 in several of the upland valleys on the east and south of the Bodmin Moors, and in 1905 was fairly plentiful near Newquay. A. E. White reported it in great abundance at Sancreed in the Land's End district in 1893, and F. J. Polkinghorne mentions that it was common about Bodmin in 1896. In most seasons it is taken frequently throughout the county, but is far from plentiful. LASIOCAMPINA DREPAN1DAE Cilix glaucata is generally distributed and of frequent occurrence in probably every district. One rather battered example of Falcaria lacertinaria was taken near Calstock in August, 1899. F. falcataria has been recorded from Coomb valley, Kilkhampton, from East Cornwall and from 216