Seasonal Notes, — September 2 1 5 



" Butterflies. — The ' large white ' usually measures about two and 

 a half to three inches in the spread of the wings, the other two kinds 

 are only about two inches. With regard to the markings : In the 

 ' large white ' the patch at the tip of the fore wings is much larger, 

 blacker, and more regularly notched on the inner side than it is in the 

 ' small white ' ; also the males of the ' large white ' have no spot (or 

 rarely have it) on the centre of the fore wings, whilst there is usually 

 one in the case of the ' small white.' 



" Each of the above may be easily known from the other common 

 kind — the 'green-veined white' — by not having broad green veins 

 on the underside of the hind wings." 



The natural enemies of the caterpillars are two species of Ich- 

 neumon fly, Microgaster glomeratus and Pteromalus brassicce. Wasps 

 have been observed to keep the butterflies in check, attacking, for the 

 most part, the " small white." 



The chrysalids will survive great cold. 



Heavy manuring to cause rapid growth of the plants will often save 

 a crop. A badly infested one has been saved by an application of 

 liquid manure. Hand-picking the caterpillars has been suggested 

 as a remedy, but it must be very tedious where large crops are 

 concerned. Shaking off the caterpillars and introducing poultry to 

 eat them has also been advised. Sprinkling fine salt or flour of 

 sulphur may be serviceable, also waterings of weak brine, lime-water, 

 or soapsuds. 



SEASONAL NOTES.— SEPTEMBER. 

 The Withering of Bluebells. 



If you have near at hand a plot of copse which last May 

 was blue with bluebells (Endymion nutans) go and look at it 

 now. Not a leaf is left and all that you will find is a number 

 of straw-like flower-stems bearing the remains of five or six 

 flowers, each with its three dry persisting sepals. Note that 

 these stand erect, whilst the flowers, as you will remember, 

 were drooping. The flowers have long since fallen and the 

 ripened seeds have followed. The stem is now hollow. Pull 

 it, it will come with the greatest ease, being quite loose at the 

 bottom, and a long tapering extremity will appear. When you 

 have gathered this not a trace of the plant will remain above 

 ground. Nor is any destined to appear until next spring. 



