THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [January 



This is a larva that the universal beating-stick rarely or never 

 brings to net. It is a case of use your eyes. The best time to search 

 for them is ist to 2nd week in June (by which period they should be 

 nearly full fed). Carefully inspect the top leaves on the shoots of 

 several kinds of willow and sallow ; the larvae very neatly draw to- 

 gether the top leaves, and lie ensconced along the shoot. They do 

 not twist or contort the foliage like many species, in fact, save that 

 the top looks perhaps a little thicker, it may readily be passed over. 

 One is often surprised to find so large a larva with so slight a sign of 

 tenant. When found it is best not to disturb them from their retreat ; 

 very slightly open just the top of the bud, when, if there, you w^U see 

 the black head of the larva. Of a pale, translucent, apple green, with 

 white stripes, Epunda viminalis larvae are similar, only they have an 

 opaque white head, with blackish jaws, and the green is less bright, 

 having a yellow tone. I have often found that they affect trimmed 

 hedges, bye lanes near woods, and around country cottage gardens, 

 where the young shoots of sallow, tops the slower-growing hawthorn, 

 &c. The larva spins up in the leaves, so that any convenient breeding 

 cage may be used, without earth. When once you know how to de- 

 tect them, you will be surprised how often you have passed them by. 

 Twisted and curled-up leaves of sallow should be kept by them- 

 selves. From these you often breed the first brood of Peronia hastiana 

 (but these are rarely as varied as the autumn brood), as well as several 

 other Tortrices ; and look out for the cannibal Brumata. — W. H. 

 TuGWELL, Greenwich. 



Dragon-flies. 



Prp:servation of Colours. — I was rather surprised in reading at 

 page 89 of British Dragonflies, reviewed in the last number the Y. N., 

 to see " The colours of some dragonflies are very difficult to preserve." 

 I do not find the slightest difficulty to preserve the colours, nothing 

 can be accomplished without some trouble and forethought, and if the 

 author had only tried, I feel certain he would have got over the 

 supposed obstacle, as he does not appear able to instruct his readers 

 in the way how to do it. I will try to assist him. First do not carry 

 a Cyanide bottle when collecting, but bring the specimens home alive, 

 and let them remain in the box for at least 24 hours, by that time the 

 contents of the stomach will have passed off, then you can use your 



