APRIL. 55 



melanella wandering about in their cases, while among 

 the dead leaves accumulated in the hollow at the 

 bottom of the palings we shall find the pupae of In- 

 curvaria muscalella ; and in the stems of the rough 

 cock's-foot grass (Dactylis ylomeratd), mining down 

 towards the root, we may find the white wiry larvae 

 of Ochsenheimeria Birdella. 



On the fungi on the palings the pupa? of Tinea pa- 

 rasitella will be found ; while in the shoots of the ash 

 the larva of Prays Curtisellus occurs, feeding on the 

 unexpanded leaves : on the palings we shall find the 

 curious semi-transparent Solenobia inconspicuella, and 

 by looking very closely we may perhaps detect the 

 curious vermiform females of the same species. This 

 is one of the few species of Lepidoptera in which alter- 

 nation of generation occurs, unimpregnated females 

 laying fertile eggs. But what is that pale grey insect 

 on the palings among the fir trees? that is Ocne- 

 rostoma piniariella ; while on the larches over our 

 heads we shall find the larvae of Coleophora Laricella, 

 arid on the palings we shall see, among the birches, 

 Semioscopis Avellanella, and in the neighbourhood of 

 the sloe, Semioscopis Steinkelneriana occurs. But 

 oh ! whatever is this dingy black, plain-looking in- 

 sect? "O fortunate puer!" you are a lucky man; 

 that is the very rare and puzzling Aleucis pictaria, 

 occurring only on this fence in April, and been once 

 taken at Colchester, where several came to light in a 

 room. Having been so lucky as to find pictaria, 

 you might rest satisfied, but continue your search and 

 it may be rewarded with Zelleria insiynipennella. 



