Insects. 5537 



from day to day, are getting more explained and simplified, but the inquiry has not 

 been instituted with such zeal: there have been few Joseph Greenes in the field, 

 laying bare the roots of the trees in winter, and gathering the harvest in the summer 

 time; as a general rule, it has been a matter of procuring specimens — "fine speci- 

 mens," — at the cost of postage, and a box of such rubbishy things in return, that the 

 box in which they were sent narrowly escaped sharing the flaming reception of its 

 contents. Owing to the amount of energy which has been and is displayed in working 

 out the transformations of the Micros, both at home and abroad, the thing is be- 

 ginning to resolve itself into a very small compass, and it is but natural that the 

 inquiring mind should wish for some other channel into which to pass, that it may 

 prosecute researches there as vigorously as it has hitherto done in the group in ques- 

 tion. The chances for becoming distinguished in other branches is much greater, and 

 the charms of the species under the new investigation will develope themselves to the 

 mind and the eye as the student advances in his researches ; he will find that this new 

 insight into Nature is as replete with beauties as that with which he was previously 

 acquainted ; the attractions they offer are quite as great as the Lepidoptera, and if 

 gaiety of colour plays any part in the contemplative pause on the threshold, these 

 possess it in no ordinary degree. Then we want to know something about the act of 

 oviposition ; whether it takes place before the larva has attained a certain age or 

 whether all ages are alike favourable, and whether the larva of the parasite itself, thus 

 hatched, is ever pierced by one of its own species. The distribution of species would 

 also be arrived at, for it would be ascertained whether different localities yielded the 

 same parasite from the same larva. I trust the coming season will bring with it fresh 

 hands and hearts, and that our knowledge may be considerably extended over those 

 portions of the insect world which often blight the hopes of the entomologist. Many 

 are the phases to which they will find their thoughts called to dwell on, and if God 

 hath so willed that the bright colouring of the butterfly is the lurement to the study of 

 the insect, may he not also have given compensating qualities, even greater, in the 

 economy of those now in duty bound to prey. — John Scott; Southjteld Villas, 

 January 13, 1857. 



British List of Lepidoptera. — With reference to my friend Mr. Crewe's remarks 

 (Zool. 5436), I beg to say that it was my intention to have published a synonymic list 

 of British Noctuidse, Deltoides and Pyralites, after Guenee's arrangement, but I have 

 abandoned that intention, in consequence of discovering (which T did with great 

 pleasure) that it is Mr. Doubleday's intention to publish a second edition of his 'List' 

 immediately upon the appearance of M. Guenee's Geometridae. — C. R. Bree ; Strick- 

 lands, Stowmarket, February 9, 1857. 



Pupa Hunting. — The perusal of Mr. Greene's instructive paper (Zool. 5382) has 

 induced me to suggest a locality, in woods, &c, for pupa?, not particularly pointed out 

 by him, viz. the tops of moss-covered stumps of trees that have been cut down. On 

 two occasions this week, while passing through a small plantation of larch which has 

 been well thinned by the woodman's saw, rather than his axe, some of these stumps 

 were examined, and a number of pupa-cases (mostly empty, however) were observed, 

 chiefly between the moss and the flat surface of the wood. The moss-covering is easily 

 removed by the hand, and, when dense and thick, its under surface should be looked 

 at, as well as the part of the stump from which it is raised, as it is apt then to carry 

 the pupae along with it. Some Lepidopterous larva; were at the same time found in 

 these localities, which, being raised a foot or so above the general level of the damp 



xv. 2 c 



