236 BETULA. 



the following, in this district : of the Bonibycidse, Leiocampa 

 dictcea, and Lophopteryx camelina ; among the Noctuidse, 

 Cosmia fulvago ; and of the Greometridse, Lampetia capreo- 

 laria, Lam. prosapiaria, Lam. defoliaria, Biston hetidarius, 

 Cahera exanthemata, as well as others belonging to the smaller 

 moths. Deporaus betulte, and Rynchites betulte, belonging 

 to the Curcidionidce, or weevil tribe, and which feed upon 

 the leaves and buds, both in the larva and imago state, 

 are among the coleopterous insects ; the decaying stumps 

 and trunks are the food of the Rhagium inquisitor, and 

 Leptura quadrifasciata, beetles belonging to the Ceram- 

 bycidce, or longicorn division. The caterpillars of several 

 Tentkredinida, or saw-flies, also feed upon Birch leaves ; 

 among these are Cimbex femorata, TricMosoma sylvaticum, 

 Selandria betuleti, and Lyda letidce. Among the fungi 

 which grow upon the decaying wood, we may notice the 

 Polyporus betulinus, specimens of which we have often found 

 eight or ten inches in diameter. The fleshy substance of the 

 fungus, which is of a pure white, and of a corky or pith- 

 like nature, when dried and cut into slices makes an 

 excellent lining for insect boxes, and is also often used as 

 a razor strop. The Agaricus mtiscarhis, whose poisonous 

 and extraordinary effects upon the system are described 

 in a paper by Dr. Greville, contained in the fourth volume 

 of the Wernerian Nat. Hist. Soc. Transactions, is also found 

 in Birch woods. 



Of the various American Birches none have yet been 

 planted with a view to profit as timber trees, though 

 several have for many years been cultivated for their or- 

 namental qualities. Among these is the Betula populifolia, 

 which Loudon supposes to be a variety of the common 

 Birch ; its foliage is handsome, but it does not attain the 

 size of our native trees, and the wood is not superior in 



