Entomological Botany. 5399 



expected, the insect belongs to the Pomifollella group ; but the red- 

 der tint of the anterior wings and the absence of white scales on the 

 inner margin near the base readily distinguish it. 



Sorbus aucuparia. Mountain Ash. 



Though so completely domesticated in suburban gardens, its name 

 mountain ash reminds one of its native haunts, where, in some glen 

 on the hill-side where the burn comes brawling down, leaping over 

 the " muckle stanes" with which the bed of the torrent is strewed, the 

 graceful appearance of this tree harmonizes so well with the scene. 

 In such localities, whilst watching Argynnis Selene flying up or down 



the ravine but we digress. Speyer enumerates as feeding on 



this plant Zeuzera iEsculi, Gastropacha betulifolia, Hypercompa 

 dominula, Acronycta strigosa, Dlphtera ludi/ica, Scopula prunalis, 

 Nola cucullatella, Tortrix Ribeana and cinnamomeana, Penthina pru- 

 niana, and Spilonota ocellana. 



Among the Tineina feeding on the mountain ash may be men- 

 tioned Cheimabacche Fagella, Argyresthia conjugella (feeding in the 

 berries) and Sorbiella, Ornix Scoticella and Loganella, Lithocolletis 

 Sorbi of Frey, which we have not yet detected in this country, unless 

 L. aucupariella of Scott be a northern variety of it, Cemiostoma 

 scitella and Nepticula Oxyacanthella ; probably, also, other of the 

 hawthorn- or apple-feeding species of Nepticula patronize the Sorbus 

 aucuparia. 



Sorbus torminalis. Wild Service Tree. 



This plant is generally, I fancy, but little known, though not rare 

 in our southern hedges ; the leaves remind one rather of the leaves of 

 some species of poplar, but are slightly woolly on the under side: it 

 generally only forms bushes in hedges, but sometimes we meet with a 

 small tree. 



Speyer quotes as feeding on it Notodonta cucullina (probably a 

 mistake, as the plant has no affinity with maple, though here they 

 grow in company) and Hibernia defoliaria. 



The most important insect feeding on it is a Lithocolletis, which 

 has been named by Frey, after its food-plant, Torminella; it mines the 

 under side, and belongs to the Pomofoliella group, being distinguished 

 by its pale saffron ground-colour and pure white markings. The 

 larva of this species is not uncommon on the Sorbus torminalis at the 

 beginning of August and October. The perfect insect is described in 



