12 JANUARY. 



" Old Oak Bridge/' we shall observe that the banks, 

 almost down to the tow-path, are covered with the 

 ragwort (Senecio Jacobea)} if we cut open a few of 

 the roots of this plant, we shall find in them the white 

 larva of the beautiful Argyrolepia ^iEneana, while the 

 larva of Ephippiphora trigeminana is said to feed on 

 the outside bark of the root of the same plant. 



If we search the roots of the yarrow (Achillea mil- 

 lefolium) in places where Dicrorampha plumbagana 

 occurs, we shall find them inhabited by the larva of 

 that insect, while the larva of Dicrorampha sequana 

 feeds within the roots of the " Tansey" (Tanacetun 

 vulgar e). 



In collecting the root-feeding larvae of the Dicro- 

 rampha and Ephippiphorce, we shall most likely 

 bring home with us a great deal of moss ; in this the 

 larvae of the Crambidce will be found making silken 

 galleries among the roots, and coming out at night to 

 feed upon the surface, while in the moss growing upon 

 old walls the larvae of Gelechia affinis may be found 

 together with the larvae of Eudorea murana. 



If we examine old mossy walls exposed to the 

 weather, we shall, on mild days, see a number of 

 pretty striped caterpillars crawling about; these are 

 the larvae of the marbled beauty (Bryophila perld). 

 The habits of this larva are very interesting, and have 

 been beautifully described by Mr. William Varney in 

 the Transactions of the Entomological Society (Part iv., 

 vol. ii., N. S., p. 117), as follows : " On old walls 

 which are exposed to the weather, I have found a 

 great many caterpillars which feed upon the fine par- 

 ticles of a silver colour, which grow upon such places. 



