THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



147 



New Food Plants. 



A few days after this and about the end of the month we were not a little 

 astonished at finding a colony of the worms about a quarter of an inch Ion" 

 feeding on the leaves of the black currant which we had previously supposed 

 to be entirely exempt from their attacks. These were collected and fed on 

 black currant leaves until about half grown, when they sickened and died. 

 On the 7th of September a smaller number were found feeding on the leaves 

 of a plum tree, taken and watched in the very act, the leaves were partially 

 eaten all around them, and the worms about half grown. These were also 

 taken and fed in confinement on plum leaves which they ate very well for 

 several days, but from some cause tbey all died before maturity, whether 

 from confinement, or the unsuitable character of the food it would be difficult 



to determine. From the position of the 

 leaves on which these larva were found 

 we thought it probable that the eggs had 

 been deposited on the plum leaves by the 

 parent fly. It was an occasion of regret 

 afterwards that some had not been allowed 

 to remain where nature had placed them, 

 to see whether they would have reached 

 maturity on food which we should regard 

 as so uncongenial. 



The figures here given represent the 

 perfect fly on an enlarged scale, the hair 

 lines at the sides showing the natural size; 

 a is the male, b the female. 



Coaxing Butterflies to deposit Eggs. 

 In the July number of the Canadian Entomologist, page 115, is a para- 

 graph from Mr. \V. H. Edwards, detailing an ingenious method of his, 

 adopted with the view of obtaining eggs from butterflies by enclosing them 

 in gauze-covered nail kegs, without bottom or top, along with a growing 

 plant of such species as their natural instincts prompt them to deposit on. 

 Carrying out the same idea in another form, and one better adapted to the 

 purpose where large bushes or trees are concerned, we used good-sized muslin 

 bags, so tied as to enclose a small branch or portion of the plant or tree with 

 a few only of the leaves remaining on it, so as to lesson the labor of looking 

 for the eggs and watching when they are deposited. A little ingenuity will 

 enable one by the use of small bits of stick or wire to expand the bag so as 

 to give plenty of room for the insects to flit about inside, and prevent its 



