SEASONS OF INSECTS. 521 



culiar insects, blossom later ; and so on till we arrive at 

 the autumn. The earliest insect-season commences with 

 the flowering of the sallow (Salix Caprea\ usually ac- 

 companied in the garden by that of the crocus and the 

 gooseberry. Then is your time to collect many species of 

 wild bees and Diptera not afterwards to be met with : 

 and various other insects now begin to emerge from their 

 winter-quarters, or are produced from the pupa. An- 

 other and later season is marked by the general blossom- 

 ing of the butter-cup (Ranunculus bulbosus\ accompanied 

 by the marsh-marygold (Caltha palustris] and ladies'- 

 smock (Cardamine pratensis); when you may hunt the 

 pastures, meadows, and marshes with success, and take 

 some insects that do not show themselves later. The co- 

 prophagous insects are now abundant. Amongst others, 

 Aphodim testudinarius, a perfectly vernal species, is now 

 only to be taken, and usually flying. A third insect-sea- 

 son indicated by Flora, and a very prolific one, com- 

 mences with the blossoming of the hawthorn, when you 

 must desert the meads for the inclosures. At this time 

 all nature begins to put on her gayest attire, and all her 

 insect tribes are now on the alert, and fill the air. They 

 are almost universally attracted by the sweet and lovely 

 blossoms of the plant just named: so that by examining 

 them you may entrap some of every Order, and many 

 that during the year will appear no more. Even many 

 of the saprophagous insects will sip nectar from these 

 flowers. The umbelliferous plants proclaim tlie fourth 

 season of insects, particularly the wild carrot and parsnip. 

 You will scarcely ever fail to find, if the weather is ge- 

 nial, Hymenopterous and Dipterous insects of various ge- 

 nera, especially such as have a short tongue, -engaged 



