AN KARLY WINTER'S STROLL. 75 



spun up in leaves or twigs, are to be found many rare species of 

 which Endromis versicolor, Cymatophora dnphiris, C. Jlnctuosa, AspliaUa 

 Jlavicornis, Notodonta dictaeoides, N. dromedarim, with an occasional 

 Stanropus faiji are among the chief ; whilst Ephyra pendularia, with 

 silken girdle round its waist, is belted to a dead leaf. But in tlie 

 crannies and hollows of the bark is the rarest entomological prize. 

 There the carefully-constructed cocoon of Dicrnnura hirmpis is to be 

 found. It cannot be really rare (though so few entomologists ever 

 obtain it), for its empty cocoons, robbed of their contents by wood- 

 peckers, are not at all uncommon in many places where birches 

 abound, but acumen, skill and patience are absolutely necessary to the 

 entomologist who would own this charming study in dove-grey 

 " kittens," with its dark central band. 



Beneath the fir-trees yonder, from the leaf-mould formed by the 

 pine needles, the pupa? of Macaria litnrata, of Bupalus piniaria and of 

 Panolis piniperda are to be found ; but we will wend our way to that 

 distant row of tall, straight poplars and polled ^villows that edge the 

 churning stream. The robin sings his plaintive song as the sun flecks 

 with gold his bright rosy breast. His tremulous outbursts of melody, 

 his quick, sharp, twitting notes, cheer beyond words the quiet wood- 

 land and hedge-rows now that our vernal songsters have departed. 

 The fluff}' fruit of the clematis combines with the crimson leaves of the 

 bramble and the bright red berries of the hawthorn to engarland the 

 stream side. What care we, with the fresh air blowing round our faces, 

 that the path is little more here and there than pools of water ! But 

 the poplars and willows are reached. Their trunks are carefully 

 searched, and soon the hard cocoon of Dicranura vimda is detected, 

 and maybe the somewhat similar but smaller ones of D. bifida and 

 D. furada. These want finding though, especially the latter, on the 

 smaller twigs. At the very foot of the poplars careful search must be 

 made, for there are spun up the cocoons in Avhich repose the pupje of 

 the rare Cymatophora ocularis, with its charming figure of 80, and its 

 delicate rosy tinge. In the crannies the cocoons of Cuspidia tridens 

 and C. psi, of C. leporina and C. megacephala are to be found ; whilst 

 spun up among the fallen leaves or on the surface of the ground, the 

 pupa? of Clostera pigra and C. curtida, of Pterostoma palpina, Notodonta 

 dictaea and N. ziczac are to be had for the seeking. Now we can 

 turn up the soil. The large pupae of Smerinthns oceUatus and S. popidi 

 with those of Phalera hucejjhala often abound, whilst deep down rests 

 the pupa of the local Taeniocampa popideti. 



But the day is dying. The slanting rays of the setting sun are 

 broken up by the cloud-like haze into arrows of light, which filter 

 through to us, touching up the moist earth with an appearance of 

 warmth it does not yield, and tinging the woods with a lingering fin«i-er 

 of rich gold. The harsh cry of the jay is less frequently heard, and, 

 as we rise from the moist ditch side to the higher ground, we pass, 

 ankle-deep, through the chestnut-leaves. The hazels are throwing out 

 their catkins, hard and solid yet ; the last clouds have been driven alono- 

 at rapid pace; the wind is falling; and now only the gentlest breeze 

 rustles among the slender branches of the trees. The expiring sun 

 intensifies the golden warmth of the oak trees, brightfais the last yellow 

 leaf which hangs clinging to the birch tree, or touches with radiant 

 finger the bright-tinted fungus in crimson on the gnarled and twisted 



