96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



collecting into scientific entomology. Herbert Spencer says: — 

 The practice of breeding larvDB, " when joined with the 

 entomological collection, adds immense interest to Saturday 

 afternoon rambles, and forms an admirable introduction to the 

 study of physiology." 



15, Bruce Grove, Tottenham, February 11, 1887. 



COLLECTING BKITISH CLEAR-WINGED LEPIDOPTERA. 



By John T. Carrington, F.L.S. 



Although much of what I am about to write may not be 

 novel to some of my readers, there may be somewhat therein 

 which will arouse more than a passing interest in this group of 

 beautiful and interesting moths. 



Those who have not yet turned their attention to the study of 

 our " clear-wings " need not fear the difficulty which reputedly 

 surrounds the collecting of these insects, as one or other of them 

 may be found in almost every neighbourhood throughout our 

 islands. If we go through half a dozen average collections of 

 British Lepidoptera we are pretty sure to find the Sesiidse 

 sparsely represented, and as often as not passed over with some 

 remark about being " hard to get." It is with the object of 

 lessening this difficulty and increasing an interest in the group 

 that I venture to pen this article. We may first premise that — 

 in the ordinary sense — there are no rare moths ; that is to say, 

 we have only to know something of the life-histories and habitats 

 of our rarities to be able to obtain our series, and, may be, 

 further knowledge in their collection. 



All the clear-wings are lovers of bright warm sunlight, and it 

 is only in sunny places where we may expect to find them in any 

 stage of their metamorphosis. This habit must be remembered 

 when rearing them, for it is necessary to keep the pupae in such 

 situation that the moths may have the advantage of the warm 

 early-morning sunshine to bring tliem out of the pupte. The 

 opposite efi"ect of the sunshine must, however, be avoided by 

 occasional damping of the cage, otherwise they would dry up 

 before turning to imagines, drought and darkness being alike 

 fatal to most of them ; neither must the moths be left in the cage 



