Clifton College Scientific Society. 83 



After a few preliminary observations, Mr. Greene pro- 

 ceeded to remark that, up to the year 1860, great confusion 

 existed both as to the arrangement and nomenclature of this 

 interesting genus. This arose partly from the extreme diffi- 

 culty of separating the species in the perfect state, and partly 

 from the total neglect of them in the earlier stages of their 

 existence. In the year above mentioned, the Rev. H. H. Crewe, 

 M.A., a zealous and able Lepidopterist, commenced and carried 

 on a thorough investigation of the larvse. This was attended 

 with the happiest results. Many new species were disco- 

 vered — varieties merged — and others, which could not be dis- 

 tinguished in the perfect state, were determined and named, 

 one of them being new to science. Having given a list of the 

 British species (47) known up to that time, Mr. Greene 

 entered into details of their economy, habits, food plants, 

 localities in which they were found, &c. With the exception 

 of two or three of the very common species, the insects in 

 this genus were rarely taken in the perfect state. This 

 latter expression was almost a misnomer, as, when captured 

 on the wing, they were generally so much rubbed as to be 

 undistinguishable. For this reason, he strongly impressed 

 upon the entomological members the great advantage to be 

 derived from searching for and rearing the larvce, not only 

 of this, but of all lepidopterous insects. The great majority 

 of the larvse of the genus Eupithecia fed upon the flowers, or 

 within the seed vessels of various plants — generally very 

 common ones, as Clematis vitalba, Traveller's Joy, Senecio 

 Jacobese, Eagwort, Lychnis dioica, Catchfly, &c. These were 

 easily obtained, by carefully examining the flowers, or beating 

 them into an umbrella. The presence of a caterpillar 

 within the seed vessel could generally be detected by the 

 ' frass ' ejected by the little inmate and collected round the 

 hole by which it had entered. Those larvse which fed on 

 trees and shrubs were to be had by shaking or beating the 

 boughs over an inverted umbrella. The rearing these 

 caterpillars, when found, was a very simple process. Procure 

 a box of almost any size or shape, with a closely-fitting 

 lid covered with fine gauze. Cover the bottom of the box, 

 to the depth of half-an-inch, with fine mould; on this place 

 a little dry, loose moss, and then a handful or so of the 

 flowers of the food plant. Fifteen or twenty caterpillars may 

 be together in a box of moderate size. The food must be 

 renewed every three or four days, great care being taken that 

 none of the little caterpillars are thrown away. Mr. Greene 

 spoke in highly favourable terms of the pleasure to be 



