( 4S ) 



OUR UTTER IGNORANCE. 



By H. T. Stainton, F.R.S. 



The reader of the foregoing pages will perhaps have been 

 (if a Micro-Lepidopterist) purring complacently at the pro- 

 gress made in our knowledge during the past twenty years, 

 so it may be serviceable to turn his attention for a few 

 moments to our utter ignorance of the early states of many of 

 the TiNEiNA — of many, indeed, of the very commonest 

 species. 



Lampronia Luzella. — One would be disposed to expect 

 the habit of this species should be similar to that of L. prce- 

 latella, feeding in flat cases on the underside of leaves ; but 

 it may be a shoot-borer like Z. Rubiella. 



MiCROPTERTX Calthella, Aruncella, Seppella and 

 Mansuetella. — It is extremely probable that the discovery 

 of the larva of any one of these would lead to the detection 

 of others. Copulated specimens of Calthella are not at all 

 uncommon in flowers of Caltha and Ranunculus; but 

 where are the eggs deposited ? 



M. Allionella and Thunbergella. — The last named 

 certainly ought to be a beech-feeder, and, according to the 

 observation noticed at p. 6, Allionella should be sought on 

 Vaccinium. 



Depressaria ciniflonella. — The larva of this should 

 be sought for at Rannoch a month before the perfect insect 

 appears, but whether it would be more likely to occur on 



