NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 89 



feeds much in the same wa}'^ as the last, several lai'v« together. 

 These larvse are brownish black, with the exception of the two 

 last segments, which are yellowish. It has the same habit of 

 throwing up its posterior segments when disturbed ; it also makes 

 its cocoon in the earth. In the following 3'ear it is the first of the 

 family to appear in the perfect state, being three weeks earlier 

 than C. septentrionalis. The perfect fly is black, with a narrower 

 band of i-ed on the abdomen. C. varus, Hart. — This is 

 another species of the same size as C septentrionalis. I had the 

 good fortune to meet with a number of larv?e in 1879, feeding 

 upon some small alder trees in this neighbourhood ; they were of 

 a darker green colour than C. septentrionalis, and without the 

 black spots which are so prominent a feature in that species. Of 

 our three species of Croesus, all of which I have had the pleasure 

 of rearing from larvse, tbis is the last to appear in the perfect 

 state. It began to emerge in July. ClacVnis viminalis, Fall. — I 

 find the larvse of this species under the leaves of the balsam and 

 black poplars, seven or eight together. They rest during the day 

 stretched along the under side of the leaf with all their heads 

 together and their bodies touching one another. The colour of 

 the larvse is orange, with black heads, and some scattered black 

 spots over the surface. When full-fed the larvse made their 

 cocoons between the gauze covering of the pot and the rim, 

 indicating by this that the larvse, in a state of nature, will make up 

 in holes of the bark or dead branches which may be on the tree. 

 Tenthredo livida, L., I have captured in its haunts ; it is a very 

 lively insect. I find it amongst the tall rank herbage which grows 

 luxuriantly along ditch sides. In such places Heracleum 

 sphondylium and Spircea ulmaria grow, and it is fond of settling 

 on the leaves of these plants, or if disturbed it darts in among 

 them, and is soon out of sight, whilst its quick movements make 

 it very difficult to catch ; all the while its antennse are vibrating 

 quickly. Another distinct feature of this insect is, the tip of the 

 antennse are black, but the two joints preceding are white, and the 

 remainder are black. Tenthredo punctulata, KL, and T. nassata, 

 L., are found in similar situations as the last. The former of 

 these two is a quiet insect, and easily captured ; it will remain on 

 the leaf or branch until you box it. It was common round here 

 during 1880. T. nassata is a livelier insect. I took two examples 

 in 1879, and might have taken more, but thought it was a common 



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