4894 Quadrupeds. 



are not unlike those of the bramble, but without thorns. The larva of 

 Nepticula aurella is not uncommon in the leaves of this plant, and may 

 be found in October, November, March, April, and June and July. 

 The larva of Lampronia praelatella also patronises this plant, but as it 

 more especially favours the wild strawberry, it is mentioned more in 

 detail under that plant. 



Geum rivale. Water Avens. 



Babington says " damp woods," but though I have been in many a 

 "damp wood" I never yet met with this graceful plant, which is of 

 entomological importance, in order to assist us in unravelling the 

 Linnean Pterophorus didactylus, for Linnaeus says specially " Habitat 

 in Geo Rivali," and we find in De Geer a full account of the larva of 

 a "plume" feeding on this plant: he says that "he found the larvae 

 on the Geum rivale in great abundance in May ; they generally keep 

 on the flowers of the plant, and appear to like the calyces of the 

 flowers, which they gnaw, and pierce through and through ; neither 

 do they spare the petals, which are equally to their taste, but they do 

 not so willingly eat the leaves of the plant." It may be hoped that 

 this notice will induce some entomologist to send me word that he 

 has known this larva for the last ten or twenty years, and supposed 

 everybody else knew it also. I have had abundant evidence, in the 

 progress of this * Entomological Botany,' of the truth of Mr. Lees' 

 remark, that " the majority of collecting entomologists are not of a 

 lilerary turn? each, like an animalcule, gyrates in his own small 

 circle, knowing nothing of the larger world beyond. 



Nepticula aurella and Lampronia praelatella both feed on this 

 plant as well as on the preceding species. 



H. T. Stainton. 

 Mounts field, Lewisham, 

 October 5, 1855. 



The Hedgehog devouring its own Young. — About the middle of last August a bay- 

 maker in tbis neighbourhood found a hedgehog's nest containing six young ones. He 

 shortly afterwards mentioned the circumstance to a fellow-labourer, who bargained for 

 the nest, with the intention of giving it to me. Happening to pass during the day, he 

 told me of it, and showed me the nest, but, as the parent was absent, we agreed to leave 

 the young ones (which were as yet blind, and could not be many days old) until we 

 could catch her; this he succeeded in doing the following evening, when he took the 

 whole home. For want of a more suitable cage, he placed them, nest and all, with 

 some food, in an empty tub for the night, intending to send them to me next day. On 

 visiting them in the morning, he was surprised to find five of the young ones eaten, 



