MOTHS AND THEIR CATERriLLARS. 195 



Such discoveries as these seem strange after our 

 entomologists have been so long hard at work. It 

 might, indeed, be thought that their persevering 

 investigations during the last ten or twelve years 

 would hardly have resulted in the detection of any 

 conspicuous native insect left unregistered and de- 

 scribed by their industrious predecessors ; and yet 

 new species are turning up every season. At one 

 time it is Mr. Doubleday, at another, Mr. Stephens, 

 at another, Mr. Douglas, who in turn bring to 

 light some fine insect to be added to the British 

 catalogue. The most recent discovery is that of 

 the fine Moth JPelasia Nubeculosa, never before 

 found in England, and very rarely on the Conti- 

 nent, which has recently been captured in Scotland 

 by Mr. Cooper, of Liverpool, and since by Mr. Fox 

 of London. So great was the excitement on the 

 occasion of this entomological surprise among the 

 enthusiastic cultivators of the science, that one of 

 the first specimens was positively sold for the sum 

 of £7 ! It appears that Mr. Cooper had gone to 

 Scotland to collect, imusually early in the season, 

 so early, indeed, that few specimens of the insect 

 he was in search of had appeared ; but he was re- 

 Avarded for his disappointment by finding himself 

 just in time, it being the middle of March, for the 



