50 BOLETOBIA FULIGINARIA. 
be introduced to Mr. Upton, who called upon me with — 
him. The object of this visit was to ask me to meet 
them in Bermondsey, and see for myself the genuine- 
ness of Upton’s discovery ; the reason assigned being 
that doubts had been expressed in some quarters as to 
the specimens being truly British moths. This was a 
very natural doubt without some proof, and one 
which I should most certainly have held, but from the 
fact of my relying on my friend’s good faith, and that 
to me was above suspicion. However, 1 agreed to 
meet him and Mr. Upton to be conducted to the 
locality, which was on the 24th of May. It will readily 
be understood that I am not free to give the exact 
spot, as that would tend to deprive Mr. Upton of the | 
fruits of his discovery. 
We were conducted to an old wooden building in 
Bermondsey, near the river, to a spot most difficult of 
approach, in an obscure light, consequent on its 
position; and there, after a short search, Mr. Upton 
showed us the larva apparently feeding. In all he 
found four specimens. The food appeared to be a 
black sooty-looking fungus or mould. The position 
of the larvee, the surroundings, and the locality were 
such as would convince anyone, as they did me, that I 
had seen B. fuliginaria really and truly at home. 
But, to remove any possible doubt, if this queer- 
looking fungoid mass was the food of the larva, I 
suggested that it would be more absolutely conclusive 
if I could feed the larva on this pabulum at my leisure. 
At once Mr. Upton broke off a portion of this fungus- 
covered rotten wood, and, removing one of the larve, 
gave it to me to bring home; and I have had the 
oreat satisfaction of seeing it not only eat, but thrive 
upon the fungus for the past three weeks, and of 
showing it to several entomological friends. This, I 
think, establishes the genuineness of Mr. Upton’s 
Boletobia fuliginaria beyond doubt. 
The larvees we saw on the 24th of May varied from 
about three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch long. 
