COLLECTING THE GENUS EUPITHECIA. 109 



From early spring to latest autumn some representative of the 

 genus may be found. Perhaps the first to be taken is E. abbreviata, 

 which occurs at night feeding on the nectar of sallow-bloom, and 

 at rest during the day on the lower boughs of oak trees in woods ; 

 a sharp jar from a stout stick will remove them from their 

 resting-place, when females can be taken, and a series reared on 

 oak leaves. From these trees also the larvae may be beaten 

 during the early summer, being full-fed in the first week of July. 

 It appears to occur everywhere in varying numbers, and should 

 be taken the first season. Although E. helveticaria may be 

 counted a rarity, it should be looked for wherever juniper grows 

 freely, on chalk or limestone. In captivity it is one of the first to 

 emerge from pupa, and often comes out as early as the end of 

 January. It is said to fly in May ; but it will be well to search 

 for it before that month. The larvae are full-fed in September, 

 and are to be beaten from juniper in the localities frequented by 

 the species, which are known to be near Edinburgh, Triug, and 

 elsewhere. Perhaps if carefully sought for it could be found in 

 many others. 



Eupithecia irriguata may be taken among large oaks about 

 Easter time. The New Forest is the favourite haunt of this 

 species, which has the habit of resting during the daytime on the 

 under sides of the lower boughs, as well as on the tree trunks. 

 If a suitable night could be selected — one without east wind, or 

 any wind in fact— I think light would prove attractive to 

 E. irriguata. It is best to obtain a brood of eggs, if possible, 

 and rear them. These larvae may be " sleeved " on a branch of 

 oak, if opportunity offers, and left to feed themselves. They 

 should be seen from time to time, however, for it is not long 

 since such a brood perished from the too affectionate attentions 

 of a larva of Calymnia trapezina, which had hatched out from an 

 egg previously laid upon the enclosed branch. E. irriguata is one of 

 the rarer pugs, and is only sparingly found even in the localities 

 frequented by it, which are chiefly old oak woods in the South of 

 England. There is no reason why Sherwood Forest, and likelv 

 places further north, should not be explored for it with success. 

 The larva is regularly taken each year in small numbers in June 

 or July in the New Forest by beating oak branches. 



Among the spring captures will be E. indigata, which one will 

 hardly fail to find in its proper locality — a well-grown fir wood. 



