268 PEMPJSLIA DILUTELLA. 



rocks I found large spreading masses of thyme, under 

 which were populous colonies of yellow ants. Here, 

 after careful scrutiny, I found some loose patches of 

 fine silken threads, such as might conceal the retreat 

 of a spider, but connected beneath with a thicker 

 dirty white loose pouch or passage of silk, in which, 

 if traced far enough, was a dull dark larva. This was 

 a great discovery. My little girl set to work to help 

 me, and we succeeded in extracting about half a dozen 

 of these larvae, part of which were immediately sent 

 off to Mr. Buckler for nVurins:, but from some defect 

 in our mode of treatment, neither of us succeeded in 

 rearing" a moth, although Mr. Buckler was tantalised 

 with an ichneumon. 



'This season, 1879, 1 hardly need say that everything 

 was late, and it was not till the 23rd of June that I 

 again found larvae. They were feeding in the plants 

 of thyme on the same rocks, and it was curious to 

 observe that not a larva was to be found except in 

 plants that were crowded with the habitations of the 

 yellow ants. The silken passage of the larva was 

 completely mixed up with the debris of the ants' nest, 

 and the abundant ant-pupae which were brought up to 

 the surface to be warmed by the sun. To make 

 success a certainty, I took up two large turfs of the 

 thyme (containing, of course, plenty of ants and 

 pupae), and planted them at home in pans. Upon 

 these the larvae fed very well, filling the whole mass 

 of thyme with web, and almost clearing it of leaves; 

 but although the ants must have been in danger of 

 starvation, not a single larva was ever touched by 

 them. The larvae continued to feed until the end of 

 July, and in the course of August a dozen beautiful 

 moths emerged. 



The larva is generally very sluggish, and difficult 

 to disturb, but, ivheii roused, can move quickly 

 enough, and in confinement is restless, and, while 

 young, inclined to wander from its food and get into 

 trouble. 



