THE COLEOPHORi, OR TENT-MAKERS. 37 



Coleophora laricella (Fig. 4a) is a very small pretty little 

 tent-maker, and feeds on the tenderest shoots of the larch in 

 early spring time. It is hatched in the autumn, and mining a 

 slender leaf cuts it off and hoists it as a tent for its shelter and 

 defence, remaining asleep in it all the winter, and with the first 

 warmth of April, and with the cuckoo's note, awakening to 

 feed on the under side of the fresh green leaves. The mine 

 is very transparent, and the proceedings of the caterpillar 

 easily observed. The moth is all of one colour, a light brown 

 with silky grey under-wings ; and is plentiful at Guildford, 

 Manchester, York, and in Scotland. 



The Coleophora juncicolella (Fig. 5) may be found on the 

 heights of Dover, making its tent on the tufts of heath, with 

 seven or nine little leaves, nor more nor less. Some are 

 withered and reddish-brown or yellow, and the lower ones are 

 green, so making a parti-coloured tent. The moth is small 

 and grey -winged. 



Coleopliora Muripennella (Fig. 6a) may be found in the seed- 

 vessels of the luzula, in June, near London, Lewes, Worthing, 

 York, Scarborough, and in Scotland, and the delicately 

 striped brown moth is abundant from April to June. 



Coleopliora Curricepennella (Fig. 7), a pretty striped moth, 

 is more abundant abroad than in England, yet it is found 

 near London and Wimbledon in May and June, producing a 

 larva which weaves a case entirely of silk, quite black, and 

 with four projections, diminishing towards the mouth, and 

 one row forming a right-angle with another row. IVeats the 

 leaf so delicately that the parenchyma is removed, and the 

 perfect network of fine veins left unbroken. 



Coleopliora lineola (Fig. 9) will repay the trouble of hunting 

 for it on the underside of Ballota nigra (black horehound), or 

 Lainiinn purpurea (purple dead nettle), and if you see some 

 whity-brown, glassy-looking blotches in September, on these 

 leaves, look under the leaf, and you will most likely find 

 quite a little company of them on a single leaf. 



The Coleopliora ducordella (Fig. 10) is found on grassy 

 banks where the Lotus corniculatus grows, busily employed in 

 adding piece after piece to his tent, which curves over like a 



