5390 Insects. 



that side of the tree which faces the stream ; crumble it very carefully 

 with the hand : should you see something resembling a cocoon, of a 

 dark, muddy colour, take it up and try whether you have obtained a 

 prize ; but in this trying lies the danger : though hard, the cocoon is 

 extremely brittle, and almost the slightest pressure crushes it : the 

 best way, therefore, when you think you have a cocoon, is to pare one 

 end with a penknife as gently as possible : if, after scraping it in this 

 manner, you find it is a cocoon, you have found xerampelina, and 

 may congratulate yourself. You may look for it as early as the 

 beginning of August, certainly not later than the first week of Sep- 

 tember. I may add that Mr. Doubleday informs me that the larva 

 feeds on the seeds of ash trees. 



Xanthia ferruginea, aurago and citrago. I have found all these 

 species, though rarely, at roots of lime trees. August. Bucks. 



Chariptera aprilina. In the utmost profusion : I have taken as 

 many as twenty at one tree. This will be one of the first pupae found 

 by the beginner: nothing can be easier; merely turn up the earth, 

 and break it, and they will tumble out of their brittle cocoons in 

 plenty. Oak. July and August. 



Hadena Persicarise. Common under moss on various trees. Octo- 

 ber, &c. 



., protea. Not uncommon at roots of oak. Cocoon greatly 

 resembles that of xerampelina. July and August. 



„ Pisi and thalassina. May occasionally be found under 

 moss, stones, stumps, &c, on or about heaths. October, &c. 



Heliothis marginata. Once found, but I cannot say where. 



Abrostola triplasia and Urticae. They may both be found, though 

 not commonly, under moss on ash trees throughout the autumn. 



Catocala nupta. This fine chrysalis occurs not unfrequently under 

 loose bark on willows : it never enters the earth, as far as my ex- 

 perience goes. August. 



Botys urticalis. This is the only Pyralis of which I ever found the 

 pupa, and, strictly speaking, not even of that, since it was the hyber- 

 nating larva. It (the larva) may frequently be found enclosed in a 

 comfortable cocoon under the bark of most trees ; I shall not soon 

 forget my disappointment when the perfect insect made its ap- 

 pearance. 



Geometra papilionaria. At roots of oak. Beginning of July. 



Eurymene dolabraria. This beautiful insect I used to take in 

 plenty under moss on beech trees in Bucks : it occurs also, but much 

 more sparingly, on oak. The larva enters the moss at the first con- 



