THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 431 
the seeds; but when the capsule becomes too small for its 
dwelling, it bores into the stem of the plant, feeding on the 
soft interior, the entrance to which it covers with a close 
net-work of silk, where it ejects its frass. It leaves the 
hollow of the stem at times to feed upon the seeds of the 
plant, but wriggles back into it on the least alarm. When 
full fed it is about eight lines long; rather attenuated; head and 
2nd segment small; 3rd segment stoutest of all: from this it 
tapers gradually to the anal extremity. The skin is in loose 
folds along the spiracles; crown of the head pale brown ; 
cheeks black; body light green above, paler beneath; 
dorsal line darker, distinct; subdorsal lines broad, dark 
green, sometimes reddish brown. On the 8rd and 12th 
segments are two distinct ocellated spots, black with a white 
centre, from each of which grows a stiff bristle; also on each 
segment are several minute black dots. The larva spins for 
itself under ground a close cylindrical silken cocoon, mingled 
with grains of sand; and in this it changes to a pale delicate- 
looking pupa. The imago does not emerge until July, thus 
remaining in the pupa state nearly ten months. I have never 
taken the imago on the wing, but the larva is not rare 
at times on the Salsola in this district, and its presence, 
when young, may be easily detected by the withered appear- 
ance of the tops of the stems, and, when more mature, by the 
small webs full of frass and sand. The early part of Septem- 
ber is the best time to search for it, and [ have no doubt that 
it will eventually be found wherever its food-plaut abounds. 
N.B.—The collector, if thin-skinned, should be armed with a 
pair of scissurs or strong gloves, as the armature of the leaves 
makes painful punctures. To non-botanists I would say the 
Salsola resembles most a furze-bush growing out of the bare 
sand.—Henry Moncreaff ; September 21, 1871. 
Notes on Oak-apples.—The plan of creation requires a 
continual appearance and disappearance of material exist- 
ence. Each form of life is from dust; and having performed 
its part, or completed its circle, returns to dust, which is 
again gathered up into new creatures; and these numberless 
and ever-varying circles constitute the great round of exist- 
ence, and the whole work is preserved in order by the control 
which the parts exercise upon each other. The oak-leaf falls 
and returns to dust, which serves for the growth of the oak, 
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