Transactions. 63 



with a broad yellow band on each side, and in some lights 

 extremely glossy. It feeds on the birch, and is full-fed in 

 October. Stainton also cites Edinburgh as the only place of 

 its capture in Scotland. I found four of the larva this season 

 in the grounds of the Crichton Institution. 



The next order of insects belong to what are called the 

 Geometrina. They are so called from their peculiar mode of 

 walking when in the larva state. This makes them appear 

 as if they were measuring the earth : for this reason the 

 larva are commonly called Loopers. The larva have only 

 ten legs, which appears to be the reason of their peculiar 

 mode of progression, for, having no legs under the middle 

 part of their body, they gi-asp the plant on which they are 

 walking firmly with their fore legs, and then bring the hind 

 legs up close to the fore legs, curving or looping the body, 

 thereby producing nearly a full circle. 



Tephrosia crepuscularia (Small Engrailed). This is by no 

 means a common insect. Stainton does not cite Scotland at 

 alL The Rev. F. O. Morris cites Glasgow as the only place 

 of its capture in Scotland. I took it at Dalscairth in May 

 last. The situations in which it is generally found are in fir 

 woods, where it is generally seen at rest on the trunks of 

 trees in the day time. The caterpillar is said to feed on the 

 larch. 



The Geometra papilionaria (Large Emerald) is another of 

 this year's capture, and is one of the handsomest of the 

 small-bodied moths, being of a brilliant grass or emerald 

 green, but unfortunately the brightness of the colour soon 

 fades. The specimens generally seen in collections exhibit 

 but a faint tinge of its former colour. The caterpillar is 

 gi-een, with humps on the second, sixth, seventh, eighth, and 

 ninth segments. The humps are all tipped with red, and a 

 small red dorsal line on the tenth to the twelfth segment. 

 Stainton cites Dumbartonshire and Renfrewshire as the only 

 Scotch localities. The moth appears in July. The larva 

 feeds on the birch. I took six larva near Douievale, audi 

 four near Tinwald Downs. 



