NOTES ON COLLECTING. 67 



perfect insects, obtained from larvas thus treated, will compare very 

 favourably as to size with any specimens of this species which I have 

 seen, so that there must be some cause, other than the one suggested, 

 for the dwarfed condition of those bred by Mr. Ficklin {Ent. Rec, viii., 

 p. 279).— F. B. Newnham, M.A., Church Stretton, Salop. Dec, 1896. 



Notes from Yorkshire, 1896.— I did but little work last year, 

 but whilst at Saltburn during the first fortnight of July, I took 

 Hadena ahjecta, and, from leaf-mould brought from Sandburn, I bred 

 NoUxJonta chaonia. In the autumn I went over with Mr. Porritt to 

 the home of Haleam (iiittaUpennis, and found it literally in thousands. 

 — G. C. Dennis, F.E.'S., 39, Blossom Street, York. 



:]^RACTICAL HINTS. 



Field Work for March and April. 



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



1. — The larvfe of DichrorJiampa plumbana and Z), plumhcuiana are 

 to be obtained in March and April by digging up plants of L'hrysan- 

 theynuin leucantliemwii . The latter tunnels in the centre of the root- 

 stocks, whilst the former occurs deeper down in the roots, grooving 

 them deeply under cover of a web. The larva of D. phimhana also 

 mines in stems of yarrow (Acltillea millefolium). 



2. — At the end of March and first week of April, collect the catkins 

 of birch, and tie up tightly in linen bags, or turn them into a band- 

 box with a close fitting lid. Paedisca hilunana and other species will 

 be bred. 



3. — In March and April the larva of Paedisca oppressana feeds 

 within the buds of l-'opidus nigra. 



4. — In early spring, collect cones of spruce-fir for Coccyx strobiliella. 



5. — Young currant shoots with withering leaves should be collected 

 in April for Incurcaria capitella, and young raspberry shoots, showing 

 a similar tendency, should be collected for larvae of Lampronia ruhiella. 



6. — Stems of wild cabbage, collected in April, showing little heaps 

 of frass sticking out of the new shoots and leaf-stalks, give larv^ of 

 Stiymonota leplastriana. 



7. — The larva of Depressaria assimilella is to be found in united 

 broom-twigs in early April. 



8. — Seedheads of Arctium lappa should be collected in April for 

 pupae of Parasia lappella. They pupate in the heads, and emerge in 

 July. 



9. — The shoots of Anthyllis should be examined in April. Their 

 bleached appearance betokens the presence of Anacampsi.s anthyllidella. 



10. — During April, beat heather, J////i(a, cranberry, etc., into an 

 umbrella by night. Larvae of local Noctuides, Geometrides, Coleo- 

 phora pyrrhidipennella, C. juncicolella, and others, have thus been 

 taken in abundance. It is best to tumble the beatings into a bag, 

 and carefully overhaul them at home. 



11. — The larva of Lampronia praelateJla is to be found under wild 

 strawberry leaves, in April. 



12. — The larvae of Coccyx hyrciniana are plentiful on spruce firs, and 

 Coleophora laricella on larches, about the middle of April. 



13. — The second week in April, the central shoots, at the tips of 

 branches of young trees of Scotch fir, should be collected for larvje of 

 Retinia turionana. 



