Entomological Botany. 4683 



webs on the spindle were identical with those making similar webs on 

 the apple-trees, and, having noticed that the spindle was more infested 

 by them than the apple, have gravely suggested that spindle-trees 

 should be freely planted in gardens and orchards to attract to them 

 the larvae which would otherwise injure the apple-crops : there is no 

 necessity to revert to the time of Rosel's gardener to show that horti- 

 culturists would be wiser " in their generation " for some knowledge of 

 insects and their habits. The larva of H. Evonymellus does not 

 attach itself to orchard-trees ; nor should we find it in our gardens at 

 all unless we kindly planted the spindle-tree purposely for its accom- 

 modation. Of Hyponomeuta irrorellus, formerly so great a rarity, 

 the larva has lately been discovered by Mr. Kirby, of Wandsworth, 

 feeding on this plant in July, the same bush sometimes affording 

 shelter both to this species and the preceding. The observations of 

 Lewis and Zeller have shown that the eggs of the apple-feeding Hy- 

 ponomeutae are hatched at the end of summer, and that the larvae 

 remain, under the glutinous covering which is deposited on the top of 

 the cluster of eggs, without feeding till the following spring, when of 

 course the larvae are pretty hungry after their seven months' fast, and 

 commence feeding on the young leaves with a good appetite. The 

 larva, however, of Hyponomeuta plumbellus has a very pecular habit, 

 for, though we know not when it emerges from the egg, yet its first 

 appearance in the spring is not as a feeder on leaves, but it feeds on the 

 pith of the young shoots, and its presence may be recognised by the 

 drooping of the terminal leaves, just as though they had been pinched 

 by a late frost in April ; the larvae, however, soon quit their abode in 

 the twigs, and come out to feed on the leaves, making small webs; for 

 this species is not gregarious, only a few occurring on one bush : after 

 the larva has quitted the stem of the twig, the rapid growth of the 

 plant soon enables the drooping leaves to revive ; so that in a short 

 time there is nothing to betray the whereabouts of the larva but the 

 slight web that it makes. How necessary it is to be cautious in 

 generalizing ! 



The larva of Theristis caudella also feeds on this plant : it lives 

 gregariously two or three together within a broad web, in June and 

 July (' Treitschke/ ix. 2, 43). 



Rhamnus Catharticus. Buckthorn. 



A plant widely distributed, occurring in hedges ; but, as far as my 

 experience goes, I have never seen it in any plenty ; however, it is 



