Jan. 1, 1870.] 



HARDWICKE'S SC IENCE-GOSSIP. 



moth (Agrotis segetuni), the Double-spotted Square- 

 spot (Noctua triangulum), the Flame (Axylia putris), 

 and the Netted Pug (Eupithecia venosata), the larvae 

 of which feed inside the seed-capsules of this plant ; 

 also the Sandy Carpet (Emmelesia decolorata), 

 Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adust at a), Lychnis (Dian- 

 tlitecia capsicola), Burnished Brass (P. chrysitis), 

 and the Silver Y moth (P. gamma), the latter of 

 which I have seen, not by dozens, but even by scores, 

 flying over the flowers of this plant. 



The Honeysuckle, or Woodbine (Lonicera Peri- 

 clymenum), that sweet shrub which is the ornament 

 of many a cottage door, and perfumes the very air 

 with its sweetness, is, too, a favourite with many of 

 our moths, — 



" By rustic seat and garden bower 

 There's not a leaf, or shrub, or flower, 

 Blossom, or bush, so sweet as thee, 

 Lowly, but fragrant Hcney-tree. 

 By stately halls we see thee not, 

 But find thee near the lowly cot, 

 Or latticed porch ; by humble door 

 Thou leanest, with thy honeyed store, 

 Dropping, from thy bee-bosomed flowers, 

 Sweetness through evening's dewy hours. 

 Tree of the cottage and the poor! 

 Can palace of the rich have more ? 

 No ! Sweet content as seldom dwells^ 

 In palaces as lowly cells." 



This plant is also one of the chief which afford a 

 delicate repast for the Humming-bird Sphinx (31. 

 stellatarum) , and its near relation the very rare 

 Silver-striped Hawk-moth (Chwrocampa celerio), 

 also the Gold Spangle (Plusia bractea), and many 

 other species of moths. 



A great quantity of moths are also to be taken 

 from the blossoms of the Reed (Arundo plirag- 

 mites) ; amongst those found flying around this plant 

 are the Bed and Yellow-line Quaker (Orthosia lota 

 and 0. macilenta) and the Angle Shades (Phlo- 

 gophora meticulosa) ; also, but very rarely, the Reed- 

 moth (Macrogaster Arundinis), which deposits its 

 eggs on the stem of this plant. 



Amongst wall-plants the Ivy, when in bloom, is 

 one of the most productive ; and the sweet odour 

 given out by its flowers when in full bloom, is a 

 great attraction to many of the day as well as the 

 night-flying Lepidoptera, as well as a multitude of 

 bees, which swarm around it collecting honey from 

 the blossoms. By day many of the individuals of 

 the family of the Vanessidte may be seen stopping 

 to alight on its flowers ; the Bed Admiral [Vanessa 

 Atalanta), and the Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui), 

 may often be seen expanding and closing their 

 wings, displaying, as if proud of their beauty, their 

 gorgeous tints in the autumn sunshine. Towards 

 evening many of the moths begin to crowd around 

 its blossoms, to sip the sweet nectar so bountifully 

 prepared for them. Foremost among them is the 

 Silver Y (P. gamma), and perchance the Yellow and 



Bed-line Quaker (0. macilenta and 0. lota), the 

 Tawny Pinion (Xylina semibmnnea) and the rare 

 Dotted Chestnut (Basycampa rubiginea). Plusia 

 gamma is also very fond of the flowers of the 

 Verbena and Candytuft. 



Lucerne and Clover fields are the haunts of many 

 of our butterflies; the beautiful Clouded Yellow 

 (Colias Edusa) and the Pale Clouded (C. Hyale) 

 love to revel amongst the flowers of these plants, 

 accompanied by their "yellow friend," the Brimstone 

 (Gonepteryx rhamni), also the Peacock (Vanessa 

 To), the Red Admiral (V. Atalanta), and the 

 Painted Lady (C. cardui), with many of the Blues 

 (Polyommati). These butterflies are also very fond 

 of alighting on the various kinds of thistles. The 

 Swallow-tailed (Papilio Machaon) is also a lover of 

 clover-fields. 



And now, after having given a few, and only a 

 few, of the flowers which possess an attractive power 

 to our " winged friends," nothing remains but to 

 fold up and despatch my MS., hoping, at some 

 future time, to see a continuation of this in these 

 pages by some entomologist more competent than 

 myself. 



Norwich. R. Laddiman. 



RECENT FORAMINIFERA. 



TF we were called upon to declare what we 

 ■*- considered the most difficult class of objects for 

 the amateur microscopist to name satisfactorily, we 

 should hesitate very little before declaring for 

 Foraminifera ; because classification and nomencla- 

 ture have, until very recently (if not still), been in a 

 most chaotic and unsatisfactory condition, and 

 because handy text-books, with characteristic 

 figures, and at a moderate price, are things which 

 may be wished for, but most decidedly are not to be 

 obtained. Figures there are, it is true, and learned 

 papers, not a few, worthy of all respect ; but they 

 are beyond the reach of many, probably of most, of 

 those who resort to the microscope as a recreation 

 at the close of a day of monotonous toil. 



Several times have we been urged to help our 

 readers to figures which might, in ever so small a 

 degree, contribute to lessen their labour with the 

 Foraminifera. Time after time the pressure of other 

 matter and other subjects has driven the Foramini- 

 fera, if not out of mind, at least so far back into the 

 land of dreams, that it is only by dint of a firm 

 resolve that we commence our sixth volume by the 

 redemption of a sort of half-promise, iu furnishing a 

 series of figures of a few recent species, associated 

 with the hope that they may really prove useful, and 

 if so, that more will follow. 



We do not purpose now, or in futurity, to give 

 technical descriptions, nor to elaborate a scheme of 

 classification — that task we leave in more competent 



