6 Micro-Lepidoptera. 



with silky grey under- wings. This is widely distributed at 

 Guildford, Manchester, York, Scotland. 



Coleophora juncicolella. — Lj'ing on the heathy heights of 

 Dover, watching the blue bright channel sea dancing the fleet 

 of little fishing boats, and heaving the great ships to and fro, 

 nestling for shelter in the tufts of Erica and Caliuna, I idly 

 wondered what those withered tips might be that topped the 

 living stem. From the wide expanse of ocean and troubled 

 thoughts within, the tent of the little Heath Coleophora turned 

 eye and mind to ponder on the cunning work of this small 

 architect. Who teaches it to pluck the little leaves, and count 

 them seven or nine, nor more nor less, and weave them into 

 this pretty case (fig. 5) ? Some are withered and reddish- 

 brown or yellow, and the lower ones are green, so making a 

 parti- coloured tent, from which by and by a small grey-winged 

 moth shall rise, and flit into the heath-bells for honey-drops 

 and repose. 



Coleophora Muripennella. (Fig. 6 a.) — Here is another sur- 

 prise, picking the brown heads of Luzula in June, the seed 

 vessels are all alive. Look closely j take a pocket lens ; a little 

 black head peeps out of a seed, and we find the larva has ban- 

 queted on the substance within, ensconced itself in the husk, and 

 marched off to empty another seed, and so feed away until the 

 long pupa sleep comes on, and April with its primroses and ane- 

 mones brings also young Luzulas, whereon the delicately-striped 

 brown moth will lay its eggs and finish the task of its life. 



They are found, these curious cases, near London, Lewes, 

 Worthing, York, Scarborough, Scotland, and the moth is 

 abundant from April to June. 



Coleophora Curricepennella. (Fig. 7.) — This pretty striped 

 moth is more abundant abroad . than in England, yet 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. It eats the leaf so 

 delicately that the parenchyma is removed, and the perfect net- 

 work of fine veins is left unbroken. 



Col ophora Imeola. (Fig. 9.) — It is worth while having a good 

 hunt for this tentmaker on the under side of Ballot a nigra (black 



ehound), or La/i M turn purpurea (purple dead nettle), and if 

 you me whity-brown glassy-looking blotches in Septem- 



ber on these leaves, look under the leaf, you will most likely 

 find quite a little company of them perambulating a single leaf. 

 By all means place ono of these tents under the binocular ; the 

 silvery. hairs upon the dark cuticle, and the fresh bit probably 

 added to the lirst part of the lent, will delight tho observer. 

 And perhaps another is still more beautiful, the tent-maker 



