5396 Insects. 



Touching hedgerows, I must so far modify my former wholesale con- 

 demnation of them as to say that I found two pupae of ocularis in such 

 a situation this autumn. It should be borne in mind that in con 

 demning hedgerows I condemn the trees, not the hedgerows. As 

 Mr. Douglas justly remarks, in his highly interesting and instructive 

 little book, the 6 World of Insects,' p. 116, " Pupse must be there," i. e. 

 in the banks on which the hedgerows are. I shall most thankfully 

 receive any information as to the modus operandi in this case from 

 those who have tried it. I imagine that Noctuae, and not Bomyces, 

 will generally be found in such situations. In the occasional records 

 of insects taken in the pupa state I observe the frequent use of this 

 expression, " Pupa, by raking? What is the meaning of the term 

 " raking ? " 



There is no use in trying hard, sticky or clayey ground ; but the 

 following hint will be found valuable : always replace the sod when 

 you have done with it, or at least the debris. When first taken up 

 the sod may be so hard as to render it impossible for the caterpillar 

 to penetrate it ; but if, after being loosened by the pupa digger's ma- 

 nipulation, it be restored to its place, the larva, which in the original 

 instance would have wandered away to some more convenient spot, 

 will now find one ready-made, and will almost certainly make use of 

 it. This has been evidenced to me in the most unmistakeable manner, 

 in proof of which I may adduce the following example : — One day, 

 last June twelvemonth, I came to a most unpromising-looking oak. 

 Observing a little angle, I inserted the trowel, and found the soil as 

 hard as a board ; nevertheless, I turned up the sod, shook it, and, 

 having found nothing, loosely replaced it. In the following Septem- 

 ber I returned to the same tree, and, having unsuccessfully dug round 

 it, came to my little (it was not more than three inches each way) 

 sod, and raised it with anxious hand, when, lo ! to my delight and 

 astonishment, Jive pupae of Notodonta dodonsea, all joined together in 

 a little cluster ! It is obvious that the above plan will be of no use 

 during the winter months, but can only be made available while the 

 larvae are feeding, i. e., in the late spring and early summer months. 

 It will then be said, " You dig all the year round ? " I answer, cer- 

 tainly : September and October are the most productive months, it is 

 true ; and August and September will be found the best time for the 

 autumnal species j but that is no reason why the other months should 

 be neglected. Of course I dig much more sparingly during the spring 

 and summer, at which period insects may be taken in the larva and 

 imago state ; but I seldom go out without my trowel ; and I can con- 



