PRACTICAT. HINTS. 158 



etc.) there are only three paii's of ventral prole^s. They, like the 

 Gracilariids, are without claspers on the sixth abdominal segment. 

 ('. fimrdindla, at least, leaves the Q^g in this condition. On the other 

 hand, certain species, ' '. lincolea, ('. murmipenndla, ('. cae^pititiella, 

 and others, are provided with four pairs of ventral proleefs, besides the 

 anal pair. — Alfred Sich, F.E.S., Corney House, Chiswick, Middlesex. 

 March 11 th, 1904. [This observation appears to us to be of the 

 greatest importance. The superfamily of Coleophorides no doubt has 

 within its limits all the materials for a complex and scientific sub- 

 division. The present arrangement of putting so many and diverse 

 species in the genus Colfoj/hora results from similar want of knowledge 

 to that which led Linne 150 years ago to put all the butterflies into 

 the genus Pa/u'lio. We still want the student Avho will work out all 

 the structural differences in the egg, larval, pupal, and imaginal stages. 

 The collector has worked out a fair number of the life-histories, with- 

 out, however, giving us any important or exact biological details, and 

 he will continue to do so. Dr. Chapman has hinted to those who are 

 studying the group some remarkable oval and pupal characters, but 

 our micro-lepidopterists at present do not seem to know what to do 

 with his hints. No doubt there is much to work out in this interesting 

 group before their natural subdivisions and affinities can be made out 

 satisfactorily. — Ed.] 



Jp> R A C T I C A L HINTS. 



Field work for May and early June. 



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



1. — The ova of Pctasia nubertdosa hatch from the beginning to the 

 middle of May in normal seasons, and the young larvf^e will feed on 

 birch or oak (preferring birch). 



2. — In late May the young larv* of PetaHia ni(heridom are to be 

 found on birch eating small holes quite through the leaves, and spin- 

 ning a few silken threads in order to ensure a safer foothold. 



3. — The larvte of Lithosia caniola are fullfed in May and June, and 

 in confinement will eat clover (Buckler). 



4. — The larva? of Litluma inmcerda are fullfed in May and June, 

 and, in the Norfolk fens, the species attects the sallow bushes growing 

 in the wettest parts of the fens, the larvfe most probably feeding on 

 the lichens growing on these bushes throughout the autumn and 

 winter from August to May. 



5. — In May the fullfed larvfe of Setina irrorella are to be found 

 feeding on a blackish-brown lichen growing on stones above high-water 

 mark, and, in some cases, mixed with a yellow lichen. 



6. — Larvte of CyboKia viesoturlla may be obtained in May on the 

 trunks of oaktrees feeding on a pale lichen intermixed with the moss. 



7. — The larvae of .F^r/eria clmjxidifdriiiis are to be found in May and 

 June feeding in the thickest portion of the roots of Piunx'iv acetosa, 

 ejecting heaps of brown frass at both ends of its mine, and spinning a 

 tough brown silken covering over any part of the side which has been 

 eaten quite through, so that an affected stem is easily detected. 



* " Practical Hints for the Field Lepidopterist," Pts. I and II each contains 

 some 1250 practical hints similar to these, but relating largely to the Macro- 

 lepidoptera. Interleaved tor collector's own notes. Price 6s, each part. 



