Insects. 5393 



Eupithecia abbreviaria. Occasionally under bark on oak. Octo- 

 ber, &c. 



„ castigaria. Occasionally under bark on hawthorn. 



October, &c. 



„ innotaria. Of this rare species I have been fortunate 



enough, at different limes, to take seven. I believe the food of the 

 larva is not ascertained, but J have little doubt that it feeds on ash, as 

 all my pupae were taken under moss on that tree. To find it, see 

 directions under the head of Eurymene dolabraria. October, &c. 



„ dodonaearia (subumbraria, Doub. List). This very 



pretty insect I am in the habit of taking under loose bark on haw- 

 thorns throughout the winter and spring. It is enclosed in a delicate 

 web. 



Remarks. 



1. The above list, it will be seen, comprises no less than 113 

 insects, including many of the rarer species. It might have been 

 considerably increased by adding others, which may occasionally be 

 found in digging gardens, stubbing up roots, turning sods of grass, 

 &c. ; but as no fixed rules can be laid down in reference to these 

 methods, or, to speak more correctly, since I can give none, I have 

 confined myself strictly to trees, on or about which all the above may 

 be found by assiduous collectors. 



2. An examination of the list will show at once that the following 

 trees are the most productive, viz., poplar, willow, oak, elm, birch, 

 beech, ash and hawthorn. But all trees should be tried. Knock off 

 the loose bark and loosen the moss on every tree you pass. I do not 

 think there is much use in digging at the roots of any trees, except 

 those mentioned, unless a particular insect be wanted, such as Boar- 

 mia abietaria or Trachea piniperda, at roots of fir, &c, &c. 



3. It will also be seen, by referring to the list, that in a very large 

 majority of instances September and October are quoted as the best 

 time for searching ; and this is undoubtedly the case. From what- 

 ever cause or causes, such as mice, damp, mould, earwigs, &c. (I have 

 seen earwigs eating a soft pupa), chrysalides become scarcer and 

 scarcer as the season advances, meaning by the term season winter 

 and spring. If the collector, therefore, wants any particular species, 

 obviously his best plan is to search for the pupa as soon as possible 

 after the larva has gone down or spun up. Assuming that the col- 

 lector knows the period when the insect he wants is feeding as 



XV. H 



