NOTES ON VABIOUS OOLEOPHORmS. 89 



ledge of the group might be chronicled. Among other things, I 

 understand that details relating to the mode of egglaying, the length 

 of the oval stage, and the size and appearance of the egg are wanted 

 for most species, whilst a detailed description of the larva (newly - 

 hatched and in each succeeding instar) is also required for many 

 species. For future reference larva> (in each successive stage) and pupa) 

 can be dropped into formalin, but all such material should be most 

 carefully labelled with the specific name, stadium, date, and locality. 

 Again, variations in tho shape of the case as the larva increases in 

 size, should be carefully noted, and drawings made. J>y these means, 

 and with sufficient patience, complete life-histories of some one or 

 more species might be worked out by most of us during the approach- 

 ing season. In describing ova three things appear to be necessary : 

 — (1) The shape and thf position of the micropyle. (2) The surface 

 sculpture if any. (3) The changes in colour uncier«:one and the dura- 

 tion between the changes. In describing larvae (particularly those 

 newly hatched), the exact position of the tubercles— i and ii (dorsal), iii 

 (supraspiracular), iv and v (subspiracular), vi (marginal), vii (at base 

 of prolegs) — wants carefully noting, and then comparison should be 

 made with the corresponding tubercles on the three thoracic segments ; 

 the number of subsegments, secondary setie, etc., should also be 

 chronicled. So far my attention has been directed rather to detecting 

 localities in the neighbourhood of those parts of London nearest to my 

 home, and 1 append herewith a list, with brief notes, on some of the 

 habits of the species I have so far discovered. 



CoLEOPHORA lineolp:a. — This species J have found in numerous 

 places around London. In Lewisham and Brockley it was especially 

 abundant a year or two ago ; frequently one inight find as many as three 

 cases on one leaf of llallota nipra. This plant is the only one on which 

 I have found the species. For some years it was naturalised in my 

 garden, but the plant was cut down in early autumn, and since then the 

 species bas disappeared. Thelarvffi are always restless and difficult to 

 breed if kept on cut stems of the food, but it becomes an easy matter to 

 get imagines if the horehound be already growing. There is no need to 

 cover it up, as the larvae fix their cases on the harder stems to pupate. 

 This is a capital species for one to begin the study of this interesting 

 genus. It is easy to procure, its foodplant is common under most 

 hedges, and the imagines are comparatively large, and so easier to set 

 than some of the smaller species. 



C. FUSCEDiNELLA.— Almost any elm hedge or tree will ,t;;ive this 

 species. It is exceedingly abundant everywhere round London on elm 

 and alder. Beyond the suburbs one frequently finds it on hazel. This 

 insect, like most of the tree-feeding species, can be successfully reared 

 on twigs placed in clear glass bottles which have had the bottoms cut 

 oft". A cork, bored to receive the stems of the twi,<;:s, is inserted in the 

 neck, the bottle is inverted and stood in a jam-jar of suitable size, so 

 that the shoulder rests on the rim of the jar. The protruding stems 

 of the t^Yigs should reach the water in the jar, but it is important that 

 the neck of the bottle be clear above the water, or the sand which 

 should surround the twigs in the neck of the bottle will become 

 sodden. It is advisable to cover t1ie sand with a layer of moss. 

 The bottom of the bottle, now the top of the breeding arrangement, 

 must be covered with muslin, held in place by an indiarubber ring or 



