PRACTICAL HINTS. 



105 



to sixteen a night. The first larva emerged April 27th the last May 

 19th, the egg stage lasting about ten days ; the young larva? fed well 

 on apple (refused dandelion when young'but ate it after second moult) ; 

 they were full-fed in July, and remained some time in the cocoon 

 without pupating, 71 imagines emerging between October 21st and 

 November 9th, from noon to 4 p.m. 



10. — Imagines of Pachnohia rubricosa are sometimes plentiful at 

 blackthorn bloom in Portland (Partridge). 



11.— The larva of Mdlinia iiilva{/o leaves the egg in April, feeds at 

 first in the seeds of wych elm, ithen on the leaves, from which it can 

 be beaten in May and June, and when full-fed its similarity to the 

 larva of the much commoner Mellinia cimilaris makes it difficult to 

 distinguish from the latter. 



12. — The larva of Melliuia rircrllan'!^ hatches in April and May, and 

 feeds on the seeds of wych elm, from which it is to be beaten in 

 company with the larvie of the much more local and highly-prized M. 

 (lilva<jo in May and June. 



13. — The larvie of Xactiia castcoira, common on heath, are to be 

 obtained most freely by sweeping at dusk, yet many are to be obtained 

 in the morning and late afternoon. During the middle of the day 

 they appear to kll to the roots of the heather. They feed voraciously 

 on hawthorn in captivity. 



14. — The middle of April is the best time to work for imagines of 

 AlcKcia pictaria, which may often be secured, although the blackthorn 

 bushes may not yet be in blossom ; they are best obtained by searching 

 the low hedges about an hour after dusk with a lantern, although they 

 may be captured in fewer numbers by dusking. 



15. — In the first week of April larva-beating will give Cleora 

 lichenaria (oak, &c.), Mctroeampa viari/aritaria (elm, birch, oak, &c.), 

 T/iera rariata (pine, Scotch fir), Kllopia prompiaria (Scotch fir), 

 Gcowetra papilinnan'a (birch and alder), still in their brown coats, &c. 

 16. — Early imagines of Kujiithccia rin/ainrata sleeved in April and 

 May on hawthorn, lay eggs freely, the larv* feeding up, pupating and 

 producing a second brood of imagines in August (Vivian). 



17. — In April, on sea-yvonuwood, csbsesoi Coleophor a inaritiwdlasiYe 

 abundant ; they are studded with small particles of grit like those of 

 (\ loripennella. 



18. — The long slender larval cases of Taleporia tubulosa are 

 to be found on tree-trunks, fences, &c., in April, but the larva3 never 

 come up from their ground winter-quarters until they are quite full- 

 fed, and the cases are usually much more abundant the middle of May, 

 when they may be collected for breeding purposes. The ? s come 

 outside the case for copulation. 



19. — The larvae of Mccfiia n'c/ianl.wiii live in a small case of the 

 colour of the very fine powdery microscopic lichen on which they feed, 

 the cases are to be found by turning over stones covered with this 

 lichen in Portland, and are usually found on the sides or under the 

 stones ; the favourite haunt is among the loose piles which are so 

 abundant in Portland. May be collected in April and May, the imago 

 in July. 



20. — Heathy ground, chiefly in northern localities, gives imagines 

 of Awphisa pwdroviana which fly freely in the sunshine in April. 



21. — In the early part of April the larva) of lAta imtabilclla mine 



