Entomological Botany. 



4771 



tion, for thus the knowledge of each consists of the results of the 

 united labours of all. 



Hamlet Clark. 

 Northampton, June 23, 1855. 



Entomological Botany (with more especial reference to the Plants 

 frequented by the Tineina). By H. T. Stainton, Esq. 



(Continued from page 4457). 



Rhamnus Frangula. Alder Buckthorn. 



Speyer enumerates as feeding on this plant Psyche Viciella and 

 Agrotis ravida; Bruand is silent respecting the food-plant of the 

 former, and the latter is stated by Freyer to feed on various low 

 plants, especially the species of Rumex ; it appears, therefore, ques- 

 tionable whether either of them has any partiality for the Rhamnus. 

 The Continental Dosithea incanata is stated to feed on this plant, 

 but the larva does not appear to have been observed by any ento- 

 mologist since the time of Hiibner. The larva of Hyponomeuta 

 plumbellus has been reputed to feed on this plant, but there is reason 

 to believe this supposition was erroneous. 



The above is a very good sample of the amount of scrutiny that 

 Speyer' s compilation requires, in order to ascertain the proper degree 

 of confidence to be placed in it; as Pisistratus Caxton says, in 'My 

 Novel/ a propos to " Knowledge is power, 1 ' Never quote second- 

 hand. 



However, there is one Micro- 

 Lepidopterous larva which cer- 

 tainly feeds on Rhamnus Fran- 

 gula, and may be found thereon 

 in August — this is Bncculatrix 

 Frangutella: the larva, when 

 young, mines the leaf in con- 

 centric circles, as shown in the 

 annexed wood-cut; after a time 

 it ceases to mine in a con- 

 tinuous curve, and flies off at a 

 tangent; it is then about to quit 

 the mine, after which it changes 

 its skin, and then feeds on the leaf 

 externally, at first only eating the leaf half through, but subsequently 

 making holes in the leaf. 



