Insects. 5397 



fidently recommend the collector in want of any particular tree- 

 feeding Bombyx or Noctua to prepare a comfortable home for the 

 larva, in the manner given above. 



When the ground is very wet do not try digging. Rather examine 

 moss, loose bark, &c. 



With regard to the question, which will probably be asked by my 

 readers, " Which are the most likely trees ? " I answer that general 

 directions on that head will be found scattered through the paper; 

 and I would only add in this place that it appears to me useless to 

 try any trees but those of considerable growth, and that when the 

 trunks or roots of such trees are thickly matted with ivy no pupae will 

 be found. But the uncertainty on this point is truly extraordinary. 

 In my first paper I gave an instance; I now subjoin another. In the 

 neighbourhood of Brandeston is a park, belonging to the Duke of 

 Hamilton, which is filled with fine old timber oaks, and is a grand 

 hunting-ground for the pupa digger. On one occasion I came to a 

 meadow, adjoining this park, in which were about sixteen oaks, all 

 fulfilling the necessary requisites for "likely " trees, old, filled with 

 angles, and a dry soil. Out came the trowel, the box was prepared, 

 and I began with number one. I dug for about two hours ; at the 

 expiration of that time I looked into my box, and found the result to 

 be three instabilis. There remained one tree, which did not seem to 

 offer any advantages over the others; yet at that one tree, in a corner, 

 about the size of a good large plate, edged with loose grass, I took 

 the following, viz., three trepida, seventeen dodonaea, three prodro- 

 maria, seven hirtaria, and two or three dozen cruda, gothica, plecta, 

 &c. This is a simple fact, and in reference to it I would ask, " Can 

 any one assign even a plausible reason for so singular a cirumstance ?" 

 The same thing, though in a less degree, occurs every day, and seems 

 to set at nought anything like fixed rules. 



If this paper be of any use in enabling the collector to fill up some 

 of the blanks in his cabinet with his own hands (and who would not 

 rather do so with his own hands than with those of others?), I shall 

 feel well repaid ; and any letter addressed to me as below shall be 

 willingly and promptly attended to where further information may be 

 desired. 



That pupa digging is much on the increase I infer from several cir- 

 cumstances, among which I may mention the comparatively fre- 

 quent record in the 'Intelligencer' of insects captured in this way. 

 Surely the most desponding must be nerved to renewed efforts when 



