192 



suit of the larvse of the small Elephant Hawk-moth 

 (ChcBrocampa porcellus). These feed on bedstraw, and 

 rest by day iipon the ground, where they must be sought 

 in the neighbourhood of their food. At first sight they 

 have something of a snake-like appearance, and the ento- 

 mologist hesitates to touch them. He grows bolder, and 

 attempts to take hold of one he has found, but a sign of 

 impatience on the part _of the caterpillar causes the 

 fingers to be suddenly withdrawn ; he looks at it again 

 and hesitates, at last concludes it is harmless, and secures 

 his prize. With the second and future ones there is no 

 hesitation. 



Somewhat similar to these are the larvse of the Elephant 

 Hawk-moth (ChcBrocampa elpenor), which are also to be 

 met with now. They feed upon various species of Epi- 

 lobium, and rest by day upon the stems of these plants 

 or upon others near them. They are conspicuous, and 

 are, therefore, easily found. To succeed in rearing them, 

 the cage in which they are put must be kept damp, in 

 order to resemble their natural localities, the marshy 

 places in which their food plants grow. 



At this season of the year a portion of an oak or beech 

 tree, and frequently a willow bush, is found to be de- 

 foliated. Either something very large, or more probably 

 something very plentiful, has been doing the mischief; 

 and on inspection a full-grown brood of the gregarious 

 and parti-coloured larvse of Pygcera hucephala are found to 

 be the culprits. These will be little trouble, and as they 

 will soon become pupre they may be put into the large 

 cage. AVhilst walking along, a willow twig or two are 

 perhaps noticed to be partially stripped of their leaves ; 

 tliis has not been the work of an idle passer-by, since the 

 stalks are left, and the leaves have evidently been eaten 

 by what proves to be the beautiful and very curious larva 

 of Cerura vinula ; this may also be found on various 



