i?^^ AND ^^^^^ 



JOURNAL OF VARIATION 



Vol. VII. No. 10. March 1st, 1896. 



SALLOWING. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



The iron grip of winter has not really laid its hold upon the land 

 this year, and hence the early moths, which have sometimes to wait 

 awhile for a favourable spell of mild weather to woo their emergence, 

 have, during the last few weeks, presented themselves with unusual 

 earliness. Even in early January, Phigalia pedaria, Hybernia rupica- 

 praria, H. leucopkaearia and their relatives were on the wing, whilst 

 before the first month of the new year was gone, hybernated wasps 

 and Tortoise-shell butterflies had re-awakened from their winter sleep 

 or were preparing for the duties of maternity. 



The tender verdure of spring is now beginning to clothe the 

 earth with its charming enamel ; the flowing sap is streaming into 

 the boughs, bringing renewed life and vigour ; the earliest migrants are 

 twittering in the woods ; the pear trees are clothing themselves in 

 virginal white ; the first whifi' of the cherry blossom scents the soft 

 west wind, whilst the clusters of luscious sallow bloom make huge 

 nosegays in the yet almost leafless woods. 



Sallows are to the entomologist what buttercups and daisies are 

 to children. They re-awaken hopes that have hybernated during the 

 winter months. By no one else are the same associations conjured 

 up. " Sallowing" is not comprehended by the multitude, but to the 

 entomologist the word breathes of newly-awakened vigour, of a fresh 

 interest in outdoor life. During the winter the collecting impedi- 

 menta have been overhauled, replenished and furbished. Nets, 

 boxes, lanterns, etc., have been put in order, and the first still warm 

 evening sees the entomologist on his rounds. 



When is the time for sallowing ? you ask. There is no exact 

 date. The same forces of nature that bring out the sallow bloom re- 

 awaken into vigour the autumnal moths after their hybernation, and 

 tempt from the pupa the early spring species which appear with the 

 first fine days of March or April. When, therefore, the sallows are 

 in blossom, the time for visiting them has arrived. The impedimenta 

 necessary for collecting insects at them are few — glass-bottomed boxes, 

 a lantern and " Sairey," the latter as large and comprehensive as 

 possible. Choose some sheltered wood or shaw, where the sallow 

 bushes are not too numerous. Mark their position carefully, for by 

 twilight or after dark they may easily be missed, especially in a 

 strange and not well-known spot. 



