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on the potatoe haulm, and strong as this is, it seemed almost too fi-agile to 

 support its bulky body. This iuscct Ls very rare in the perfect state. I have 

 not yet been able to rear any of the numerous caterpillars that have come 

 into my possession. The Humming-bird moth was also remarkably plentiful 

 last year (1865). 



The " Eyed hawk moth," one of my finest specimens, was obtained from 

 some boys who had picked up the caterpillar under a weeping- willow growing 

 in Ross, and were carrying it about. On inquiring what they were going to 

 do with it, they answered ''roast it." "Well," I thought, "if entomologists 

 are said to be cruel (which is never necessary), we at all events do not inflict 

 such horrible torture as roast ing on our victims, and if I rescue this poor 

 wretch from its imi)ending fate, put it comfortably away in my breeding- 

 cage till it is ready to change, and when the moth comes out give it a few 

 minutes in a tin box, with the agreeable smell of bruised laurel leaves, which 

 causes speedy stupefaction, I shall almost deserve the thanks of the Society 

 for the Preveation of Cruelty to Animals." I soon prevailed on the boys to 

 give it up, for they fortunately saw their way to as much fun in spending a 

 penny or two, as in roasting a plump caterpillar, the flavour of which might 

 not have recommended itself to English palates. 



One, at least, of the prettily spotted Burnets (Zygana filipendufa) is 

 very common. The singular-looking Clearwings have only one repreentative 

 {Sesia TipuUformis) that is at all common; the remainder are most of them 

 very rare. 



The next group (Pscudo-homhyces) contains some of the most handsome 

 English moths : these, from their being mostly " spinners," are often met 

 with in the cocoon.' They appear to be fairly represented in Herefordshire. 

 The most familiar example is the Tiger-moth : the Miller-grub, its cater- 

 pillar, is a remarkably lively specimen, running about everywhere and eating 

 everything — few garden plants seem to come amiss to it. In its perfect state, 

 it is, however, much more shy, never moving out until after dark. It is, 

 nevertheless, attracted by light, and may frequently be found buzzing round 

 lamps and windows at night. The Brown-taU is another familiar example ; 

 the catei'pillar feeds on hawthorn in June, and from its pretty appearance 

 (black, with white and blue spots and stripes), is a great favourite with 

 children ; the moth is a very plain, quiet-looking, white insect. Another 

 example is the "Cinabar" moth, which is quite a day-flier, and from its 

 handsome appearance (very dark groimd with crimson spots and stripes) is 

 frequently dignified by the name of butterfly. The caterpillar is black with 

 yellow transverse stripes, and feeding chiefly on groundsel, is often abundant 

 in gardens. 



The "Puss moth" and the "Goat moth" are two of the largest and 

 most remarkable species in the group, both are frequently found here. The 

 next group (Noctuoi) is generally characterised by dull coloured moths, seldom 

 showing themselves but to those who look specially for them. There are, 



