THE BRITISH NATURALIST. . 8i 



On examining the plants of Echiiini vulgare growing on dry, chalky 

 slopes, the tips of some of the radical leaves appear to be withered, 

 but in reality this is caused by the young larva of Coleophova onosmella ; 

 this they afterwards cut off and use as their case, and they keep 

 adding to it till it becomes a bulky, woolly-looking case by the time 

 the larvae are full grown. On the leaves of Lotus covniculatiis the larva 

 of Coleophora discoidella will be found now and then in their cornucopia - 

 shaped cases. The ox-eye daisy has its leaves mined by the larva of 

 Bueculatrix aurimaculella ; dig up the plants and pot them, and soon 

 the larvae will spin their beautiful reticulated cocoons. The carline 

 thistle growing on chalky slopes have the leaves drawn together by 

 the larva of Depressavia nanatella, which feed on the upper surface ; and 

 Gvacillavia tvingipennellu feed in the same manner on leaves of plantain. 



As we pass the wood by the roadside we notice the bleached 

 appearance of the leaves, and soon find this is caused by the larva 

 of Coleophora laricella, and on the leaves of Ballota nigra another 

 Coleophora (lineola) is at work making conspicuous blotches, and in 

 the radical leaves of Scahiosa cohmiharia in sheltered places, the larva 

 of Lithocolletis scabiosella is now to be found. 



In the stems of wild cabbage, growing on the cliffs in most places 

 on the south coast, the larva of Stigmonota leplastriana is now to be 

 found easily by the little tufts of brownish frass exuding from holes 

 in the stems and shoots, and the old stems of Marriibiiiiii vulgare con- 

 taining the pupae oi Leioptilus inicvodactylus — it we are in want of the 

 species, — in damp hedge banks. In similar places the hemlock 

 (Conmm maculatum) is now getting high; by examming them 

 closely we find some of the tips of the leaves folded over, by taking 

 a good supply we should breed some fine specimens of Depressaria 

 alstvemeriana and Weirella, and while in this neighbourhood, the muddy 

 banks of tidal rivers must be examined for old stems of sea lavender, 

 some of which are still to be found, for they contain the pupae of 

 Coleophora limoniellcB ; and now I think we will content ourselves for 

 this month by getting all we can of the above, and prepare our cages 

 for what is to come next month, for then in reality we shall have a 

 busy time. 



Shepherdess Road, London, 

 March, 1891. 



