Insects. 5395 



let him endeavour to attain an eminence which commands a survey of 

 the surrounding fields,. &c. Having accomplished this, let him cast a 

 scrutinizing glance around. Should a lofty oak or a stately poplar 

 be seen rearing itself in solitary majesty in the middle of a field, let 

 him rejoice ; and, having hastily descended from his not "bad" emi- 

 nence, let him at once proceed to it, regardless of hedge and ditch. 

 If there be a nice dry sod, ensconced in some snug corner, formed by 

 the roots, he can scarcely fail of success. Insert the trowel, in this 

 instance, about eight inches from the trunk, to the depth of four. 

 Turn up the sod and lay it on the ground. Look then at that part of 

 the trunk from which the sod has been removed, and, if you cannot 

 see, feel gently with the hand for any cocoons which may adhere. 

 Then take the sod in the left hand and tap it softly with the trowel, 

 and the pupae which form no cocoon, or a very weak one, such as 

 Aprilina, prodromaria, &c, will drop out. If the sod be composed of 

 very loose, dry earth, simply shake it. Lastly, tear the roots asunder 

 for Bombyces ; if, however, the roots be strongly matted together 

 there is little or no use in doing this. Before leaving the tree, see if 

 there be any nooks or crannies formed by loose bark, in which case 

 break it off with the hand if possible; if, however, this cannot be 

 done, wrench it off with the trowel, observing that it should not be 

 inserted further than is absolutely necessary. It is astonishing into 

 how small a hole or crevice a caterpillar will creep. If, therefore, an 

 insect such as megacephala, which spins up under the bark, be 

 wanted, these little nooks must be carefully and cautiously examined. 

 If moss be on the trunk or roots, tear it gently off, and search both 

 the moss and the trunk. When these operations are ended the tree 

 may be looked upon as " done for." In digging round a tree, by 

 which I mean one whose roots do not form any angles, it is not 

 necessary to insert the trowel deeper into the earth than three inches, 

 or further from the trunk than four. With regard to woods, I can 

 add nothing to what appeared in my first paper, from which I make 

 the following extract : — " It is in vain to examine the dense portions ; 

 it is equally vain to dig at the roots of trees in such localities, with 

 few exceptions ; and you will rarely find anything, unless upon trees 

 of a considerable growth. The thick moss which collects about the 

 trunk and roots is the part to be examined. 'Bombyces' are gene- 

 rally (almost invariably) found under the moss which covers the 

 spreading roots, and not on the trunk. The best localities in woods 

 are the borders and open places ; and it is curious that such places, 

 when elevated or facing the North, seem to be the most productive." 



