272 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
hindrances,—for it steadied the food by means of the first 
pair, which are similar to those in other larve,—yet from the 
force with which it hit Orgyia fascelina, and the delicacy with 
which it used them in spinning, it is clear that the muscular 
development is considerable. It is difficult to understand 
how, in moulting, the connection is transferred from the old 
pairs, so recently in use, to the new ones, which are packed 
away under the old skin. It is hardly likely that there 
should be two sets of muscles, which are brought alternately 
into play at the different moultings. This almost refutes 
itself, as it suggests a waste in the economy of Nature. 
It has been said that there is something similar in the case 
of a crustacean which renews its claws after an injury. But 
I can see no parallel, for the crab or lobster has no new claw 
ready to take the place of the one that has been wrenched 
off; the muscles are simply off duty till, by a slow process, a 
new claw, very small at first, grows in the place of the lost 
one. Now Fagi has the two sets of legs at one and the same 
time; true that one set is not visible till the moulting begins, 
but then, with scarcely any interval, the active force is trans- 
ferred from the old to the new, the new pair being considerably 
longer and stouter than the old. 
Of course with the claspers they are simply drawn out of 
the skin, and the muscular action is in no way interrupted or’ 
suspended, whilst with the long pairs the actual jointed legs 
themselves are cast aside, and in some mysterious manner 
the muscles transfer their service to the new. 
H. M. Goipine Biro. 
45, Elgin Crescent, Kensington, 
October 13, 1876. 
Capture of Lepidoptera at Sallow-bloom. 
By Joun T. CARRINGTON. 
Tue afternoon of June 17th, last year, was like many more 
afternoons in the Highlands of Scotland,—it was wet; but, 
in despite of the rain, I started, accompanied by two friends, 
from Camghouran for a walk of about twelve miles, over the 
moor of Rannoch, to a solitary shepherd’s cottage, rejoicing in 
the Gaelic name of Croachan Dhu, meaning in English “ at 
the black burn.” This district is probably the loneliest, 
