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HISTORY OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Hesperia comma, Linn. (Silver-spotted Skipper). Chesham, High Wycombe, Wendover and on the Chilterns ; always on chalk slopes, but widely distributed and sometimes plentiful

Cyclopides paniscus, Fab., palsmon, St.C. The Rev. C. F. Thornewill reports it as to be found on the north border of the county near Whlttlebury Forest ; its principal haunts with us are in the' adjoining counties

Nisoniades tages, Linn. (Dingy Skipper). Generally distributed, but more especially attached to railway banks and the stony portions of chalk hills

HETEROCERA

Smerinthus ocellata, Linn. (Eyed Hawk Moth). Generally distributed in the county, but not often captured. The larva is frequent on sallows and willows, but the Rev. Joseph Greene reports that it was usually obtained by him in the pupa state by digging at the roots of willow trees. Messrs. Peachell have taken it at High Wycombe at electric light

—— populi, Linn. (Poplar Hawk Moth). Generally common, but most frequently obtained as a pupa by digging at the roots of poplars

—— tiliæs, Linn. (Lime Hawk Moth). Buckingham, Halton, Chesham ; tolerably common ; usually obtained, as stated by the Rev. J. Greene, by digging at the roots of elms not limes for the pupa

Acherontia atropos, Linn. (Death's-head Moth). Buckingham, Chesham, Halton, Black Park, Wolverton ; usually found in the larva state feeding on potato leaves, or in the pupa state by digging among potatoes ; but in 1867 Mr. Barlow of Stantonbury recorded the finding of from fifteen to eighteen larva; all feeding upon the tea-tree (Lycium barbarum)

Sphinx convolvuli, Linn. (Convolvulus Hawk Moth). A specimen was taken in July, 1854, hovering over honeysuckle blossom by the Rev. Joseph Greene ; another in August, 1887, at rest in a cleft of a tree in Chalfont Park, by the Rev T Seymour St. John ; two more by Dr Churchill at Chesham some years ago and the pupa has recently been found near Haddenham

—— ligustri, Linn. (Privet Hawk Moth).Halton, Buckingham, Chesham, Claydon, High Wycombe ; probably widely distributed. Its larva, which usually feeds upon privet or ash, has been taken in this county feeding freely upon the common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) and the mealy guelder rose (Viburnum lantana).

Deilephila galii, Schiff. (Galium Hawk Moth). The capture of a single specimen of this rarity in his garden was recorded in July, 1888, by Mr. W. Thompson of Stantonbury, Stoney Stratford; and one was seen in the rectory garden at Leekhampstead by the Rev. C. F. Thornewill

—— livornica, Esp. (Striped Hawk Moth). A specimen of this equally rare species was secured in April, 1867, near Wolverton by Mr. Fisher, and recorded by Mr. J. Barlow of Stantonbury

Chærocampa porcellus, Linn. (Small Elephant Hawk). Halton, Chesham, Long Down, Claydon ; not scarceon chalk hills among yellow bedstraw (Galium verum)

—— elpenor, Linn. (Large Elephant Hawk Moth). Halton, Claydon, Chesham, Buckingham. Larvæ are found here abundantly in some seasons feeding upon willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum) on the banks of the river Ouse. Mr. Crewe found others feeding freely upon Galium uliginosum

Macroglossa stellatarum, Linn. (Hummingbird Hawk Moth). Buckingham, High Wycombe, Chesham, Claydon, Halton, Leckhampstead ; probably generally distributed, and in some widely separated years, common

—— fuciformis, Linn. (Broad-bordered Bee Hawk). Very uncommon, but found at Halton by the Rev. Joseph Greene and on the borders of Whittlebury Forest near Leckhampstead by the Rev. C. F. Thornewill ; taken by A. T. Goodson and W. H. Smith in 1901, 1902 near Aston Hills (Tring side)

—— bombyliformis, Esp. (Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk). Also uncommon, but it has been taken at Halton, and the Rev. H. H. Crewe secured two specimens in the year 1851 at Claydon, hovering over the flowers of ragged-robin (Lychnis flos-cucuh) ; two specimens taken by A. T. Goodson in 1901, not found in 1902

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