LEAF-MINERS. 525 



consist of the ordinary scales of the wings exceedingly developed 

 both in length and width. 



The leaves on the left hand were taken from the garden rose, 

 and have been mined by the larva of another species of the same 

 genus, Nepticula aurella. 



This beautiful little moth derives its specific name from the pe- 

 culiar coloring of the upper wings, which are bright chestnut, re- 

 lieved by a broad band of gold across their centre. The tips of 

 these wings are fringed, and the lower pair are nearly white, and 

 edged with a fringe similar to that which has already been de- 

 scribed. 



As a general rule, the leaf-mining caterpillars are solitary, and 

 if even two or three are found in the same leaf, each leads an iso- 

 lated life, and does not inhabit the same burrow as its neighbor. 

 There are, however, exceptions to this rule, as to most others, and 

 certain species of leaf-miners inhabiting the henbane live harmo- 

 niously together between the membranes of the same leaf. They 

 are larger than the ordinary species, and are remarkable for their 

 power of burrowing into a fresh leaf when ejected from their for- 

 mer habitation, a power which does not seem to belong to the 

 caterpillars of the Micro-lepidoptera. 



As the meandering tracks of the Micro-lepidoptera upon the 

 leaves of various plants are very similar in general aspect, I have 

 caused figures of common leaf-rollers to be inserted in the illus- 

 tration. If the reader will turn to pages 312-316, he will see an 

 account of certain moths whose larvae roll up the leaves in which 

 they reside. The lilac leaf on the left hand of the illustration has 

 been rolled up by the larva of a moth named Gracillana syrin- 

 gella, the generic title being given to it on account of its graceful 

 form, and the specific name because it is fond of frequenting the 

 syringa shrub. The larva is shown just below, of its natural size, 

 and the hole through which the perfect insect has escaped can be 

 seen upon the rolled portion of the leaf. 



On page 315 may be seen an account of the manner in which 

 the larva performs a task so apparently impossible as rolling up 

 a leaf of such great comparative size. When the little caterpillar 

 is contrasted with the leaf on which it is at work, the contrast is 

 almost ludicrous, for it seems nearly as impossible for so little a 

 creature to roll up so large a leaf as for a man to roll up one of 

 the armor-plates of an iron-clad ship. The manner by which this 



