Entomological Botany. 4469 



In .1791 Jaques Brez published, at Eltrecht, his 'Flore des 

 Insectophiles,' being a list of plants frequented by insects, showing 

 also the insects which frequented them: in the ' Isis,' 1846, Dr. 

 Speyer and his brother gave a catalogue of* plants used as food 

 by Lepidopterous larvae ; but this also was a simple catalogue of 

 names, and I am not aware that any writer has attempted this inte- 

 resting subject in the mode in which I propose to treat it. 



The plants are enumerated in the order in which they occur 

 in Babington's ' Manual of British Botany.' Information concerning 

 the larvae of Noctuae has been largely drawn from Guenee's * Histoire 

 Naturelle des Noctuelites.' European species not already detected 

 in this country are here mentioned, provided the food-plant is a 

 native, in which case the insect may be expected to be met with. 



It must, however, be preliminarily observed that many larvae 

 are polyphagous, and some, such as those of the Sciaphilae, to such 

 an extent that it would be difficult to discover plants on which they 

 do not feed : these must be left to the practical experience of the col- 

 lector, since to enumerate the polyphagous species under each plant 

 on which they feed would be a great waste of time and paper. 



Clematis vitalba. Travellers' Joy. 



A common plant on chalk and limestone, and growing in such 

 masses that it is extremely probable the larvae of several Micro- 

 Lepidoptera feed on it. The reputed Nepticula larva on the leaves of 

 this plant (see Zool. 3955) is now ascertained to be Dipterous. 

 Speyer enumerates three of the Geometridae as feeding on this plant, — 

 Chlorissa vernaria, Phibalapteryx tersata and P. Vitalbata. 



Thalictrum Jlavum. Common Meadow Rue. 



An inconspicuous plant growing in wet fields, flowering in June 

 and July. The singular Noctua, Calpe Thalictri, the sole European 

 representative of an extensive exotic family, and which has not 

 hitherto been noticed as British, is attached to this plant. The larva, 

 reminding one of a Cucullia larva in shape and colour, feeds 

 a decouvert on this plant, in May. 



Anemone nemorosa. Wood Anemone. 



So plentiful in woods (especially where the underwood has recently 

 been cut down) and thickets ; its white blossoms attracting the 

 attention of the most unobservant in April and May. 



XII. 2 T 



