Insects. 4191 



the stem. Nor are the larvae all of one colour, for some are pale, 

 others greenish, and a third kind inclined to black ; and it is not un- 

 common to find a pale larva eating up, and a dark one eating down, 

 the same leaf, or vice versa. These mining larvae, so far as my own 

 experience has gone in rearing them, have all proved to belong to the 

 genus Elachista, and the perfect insects produced have been E. albi- 

 frontella, luticomella, bisulcella, and Cygnipennella : no doubt conti- 

 nued research will reveal many others, of which at present we know 

 nothing in their earlier stages. Kilmunella, Bedellella, cerasiella, 

 Rhynchosporella, Eleochariella, &c, are only known in their perfect 

 state, and to rear any one of these would amply reward the collector 

 for his trouble. 



When about to assume their transformations, these larvae quit the 

 interior of the leaves, and either suspend themselves by a fine thread 

 to some of the leaves, or descend to the ground, on the top of which 

 they spin up, and make for themselves cocoons composed of a few 

 loose particles of earth. To rear them is not a very difficult task, 

 the great enemy to contend with being the Ichneumon ; and therefore 

 the collector must not be disheartened at the number which will die 

 on his hands. The Ichneumon would seem to attack the larvae when 

 very young, as I have lain for a couple of hours beside a large tuft of 

 Aira caespitosa, filled with larvae in various degrees of growth, without 

 seeing the operation, and have afterwards brought it home, and from 

 the whole lot which it contained, have reared but two or three moths. 

 Sometimes the parasite only bursts forth in its perfect state, and at 

 others when about to change to the pupa. I have taken as many as 

 fifteen parasitic larvae from a single caterpillar about three-eighths of 

 an inch in length by a thirty-second in diameter. They were so 

 closely packed and arranged, that they gave to the creature the ap- 

 pearance of a miniature chain cable. 



My paper has become longer than I intended, and I must therefore 

 conclude, under the hope I have already expressed that some will be 

 induced to profit by it, and that next season the pages of the ' Zoolo- 

 gist ' will attest the industry of those anxious to benefit their brethren 

 and to increase their own knowledge of the study which they profess 

 to combat with. 



John Scott. 



Loudon Works, Renfrew, 

 December 6, 1853. 



