3960 Insects. 



mining the nut, with those raining the hornbeam, is a matter of 

 considerable interest, as the plants are not so closely allied as 

 others in which we find no apparent identity of the miners. 



2. The Mine. The variety in the modes of mining is very consi- 

 derable : there is the long wavy gallery, as in N. anomalella ; 

 there is the long gallery so closely twisted as to form a blotch, 

 as in N. viscerella ; there is the short gallery returning into it- 

 self and forming a blotch, as in N. subbimaculella ; there is the 

 short rather broad gallery, as on the Teucrium ; and there is the 

 complete blotch, as that on the sloe. Besides the still more 

 distinct mines of concentric circles on the sorrel, and of nume- 

 rous extremely fine mines round and round the same small space, 

 as done by N. Septembrella on the Hypericum. 



3. The Larva. This may differ in colour, size, or marking ; fre- 

 quently when two species feed on the same plant, one is yellow 

 and the other green ; and this difference of colour is sufficiently 

 apparent through the cuticle of the leaf. 



4. The Cocoon. This may differ in size, shape, substance, and co- 

 lour. The difference of size will generally be proportionate to 

 the difference of size of the larva?, and in the case of the species 

 of the nut and hornbeam is considerable, one being about twice 

 the size of the other. The difference of shape will frequently 

 help to point out different species; some are oval, others shaped 

 like mussel-shells; the cocoon of N. aurella has the edge rather 

 flat and scalloped. In substance, cocoons differ in being more 

 or less tightly woven, some having a flossy texture. In colour, 

 the differences are very considerable ; the species from the ap- 

 ple-leaves makes a bright yellow cocoon ; one of the hawthorn- 

 miners makes a beautiful pink cocoon. Continued observation 

 might thus enable a collector to distinguish many species by 

 the cocoon alone. 



5. The perfect Insect. It is not necessary here to enter into 

 the different characters by which these may be distinguished ; 

 and really, the quantity of paper I have filled reminds me, that 

 unless I wish to be considered a bore by your readers, I must 

 conclude this somewhat lengthy, but, I hope, not tedious 

 " Introduction to the Study of the Nepticulae." 



H. T. Stainton. 

 Mountsfield, Lewisham, April 30, 1853. 



