8o The Ottawa Naturalist. I July 



and some kinds even produce g"'''-''' '^^ more or less decided 

 enlarg-ements of the stems of their fooj p'.int. Thesj of course 

 can only be collected by huntini;; far them ;it t!»j proper time. A 

 larg-e number of still smaller catcrpiiKirs are leaf miners feeding- 

 on the soft cellular tissues under l!ie epidermis. The moths of 

 these leaf miners are very beautiful, but delicate little creatures. 

 The tips of plants may often be seen drawn tog^ether by 

 threads of fine silk, and, if the leaves nre separated, the cater- 

 pillar which caused this tying- can be collected. A species of 

 economic importance, because it does considerable damag-e at 

 times, has been called the Greenhouse Leaf-tyer, from the habit it 

 has of drawing- the leaves of the plants tog-ether, and fastening 

 them with silk. 



The pleasure derived from collecting caterpillars and watch- 

 ing their varied habits, will be found very helpful and fascinating. 

 There are many lessons which they teach us, from which we could 

 derive untold benefit. Every species is worthy of study, and, as 

 there is so much yet to be done in working out the life-histories 

 of our butterflies and moths, particularly of the latter, there is 

 in this branch ot study alone a vast field for much original 

 investigation. The value of such work cannot be over- 

 estimated. From an economic standpoint, it is only when a 

 complete knowledge of ail stages is known that we can hope for 

 the best results in combating the ravages of many injurious 

 species. I feel sure that anyone who devote^; any time to the 

 rearing of larvae, will not regret the hours spent in collecting and 

 watching their specimens. On the contrary, however, they will 

 be surprised at the interest they find themselves taking in the 

 development of their captures, and, even if they should not be 

 successful in bringing the specimens to maturity, they will not, I 

 venture to say, allow this disappointment to lesson the interest 

 aroused in these creatures. 





