LEPIDOPTERA. 253 



the darkish colour is in fairly large patches, and the yellow colour in 

 longitudinal lines. The yellow colour prevails to such an extent as 

 to brighten the whole body, and thus the caterpillar is a very pretty 

 creature. 



As this is often a very injurious insect, it is at times essential to 

 adopt some remedial measures. This can best be done in the cater- 

 pillar stage, by shaking them down on a spread sheet, or otherwise 

 collecting the larva? and placing them in paraffin. 



The pupa? may in some cases be kept in check by spreading gas 

 lime or hot lime round the roots of a previously infested tree. 



Family GEOMETRINA. 



The family of moths known as Geometers are of considerable 

 importance in forest entomology, inasmuch as many species may be 

 readily recognised on the foliage of trees by the peculiar habit of the 

 larvae, known as " looper grubs." This peculiar habit arises from 

 the method of the larva walking in the form of a " loop." A short 

 observation of the creature will give a rapid demonstration. The 

 larva of a "looper grub" has six well -developed true legs in the 

 fore part of the body, and four well-developed claspers at the abdom- 

 inal end of the body. When at rest the creature may be perfectly 

 straight, but when it wishes to exercise locomotion it brings up the 

 claspers against the true legs, and thus the greater portion of the body 

 rises upwards in the form of an arch or loop. Then the creature 

 adheres by the abdominal legs, and projects the whole body forward, 

 and again draws the claspers against the true legs, thus making the 

 loop and moving the length of its own body forward each time. 



The moths are not quite so easily recognised, but as a general rule 

 they have well-developed wings (though in some cases the females 

 are partially wingless), and the wings are generally folded ridge-wise 

 when at rest. 



Fidonia piniaria, Linn. (Bordered White Moth). 



This moth is very common in Northumberland during the summer 

 months. In the Scots pine woods they fly very abundantly amongst 

 the heather and rough herbage. The larva is not particularly con- 



