1 62 The Museum Gazette 



these serpentine appearances are produced by the caterpillar 

 (larval representative) of some insect. An egg is in the first 

 instance deposited in the leaf. The grub is hatched and 

 proceeds at once to feed upon the leaf substance, carefully 

 avoiding any opening either above or below. As the grub 

 grows the size of its feeding burrow increases, until at length 

 it passes into its state of chrysalis or pupal rest, to emerge 

 subsequently as a perfect insect. Insects of various orders 

 and species spend part of their lives in this manner. To 

 them the not wholly appropriate name of leaf-miners is given. 

 They are miners only in the military sense of the word ; it 

 would be more suitable to call them burrowers. If a word 

 could be constructed which would imply that they burrow 

 not only for the purpose of lodgment but in order to eat, it 

 would be acceptable. 



Oak leaves mined by the larvae of Lithocolletis , a genus of 

 minute and beautiful moths, may be observed in abundance 

 in August. The upper surface of a mined leaf appears as if 

 puckered in places. On its under surface the cuticle will be 

 found to have been loosened by the miner and then drawn 

 together, making it look as if plaited lengthwise. The larva 

 is whitish, with a green line along its back. It will remain in 

 the pupal state till next May. In winter, withered leaves 

 containing living pupae may be found under the trees. There 

 are two broods, the summer one emerges in July. 



The little leafless parasitic Convolvulus known as Dodder 

 (Cuscuta) is now in full beauty.. Professor Lindley, who 

 amidst a wealth of accurate description often introduces a 

 quaint expression, calls Dodder " an odd little plant." There 

 is, surely, nothing about it suggestive of oddity, except its 

 unfortunate name. All its tribe are graceful, and none more 

 so than itself. The slender climbing and twisting stems, half 

 translucent, and of a rosy-pink tint, with the clusters of delicate 

 white flowers which they support, are singularly beautiful. 

 Nor, when it covers patches of clover many yards in width, 



