i89i.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



20I 



We must now devote our attention to all the waste pieces of ground 

 we have taken note of, or perhaps searched over during our previous 

 rambles, such as disused brickfields, gravel pits, chalk pits and similar 

 places, where the vegetation grows undisturbed, these are the places 

 from which we are likely to soon fill our bags, although some good 

 things are occasionally found by the wayside, and all seed heads must 

 be taken that have any traces of larvae, be they ever so small, for they 

 are no further trouble after being put into the cages, there is always 

 sufficient food among the stuff we have filled our bag with to feed up 

 any larvae that may be amongst it. 



One of the most conspicuous plants to be observed at this time in 

 these rough places is the wild chamomile ( Aiithemis cotula) which is 

 generally very abundant, on opening some of the old flower heads we 

 shall probably find a rather fat looking larva which would be that of 

 H. nimhella ; it is best to cut a large bagful, for larvae are not to be found 

 in every head. The thistles also growing here have some of the leaves 

 very much blotched, on turning them over we find the long, straight, 

 light coloured cases of C. tlierinella, this species is somewhat local 

 and most difficult to breed ; other leaves on these same thistles have 

 discoloured streaks all along the midrib and spreading up the side ribs, 

 if on opening this discoloured portion we find a yellowish larva inclin- 

 ing to pink towards the anal segments it would be that of G. aciunine- 

 tella. The Burdock {Avctiuni lappa J, is another plant we must not fail 

 to examine, for now the larva of A. hadiana is to be found inside the 

 seed heads feeding on the seeds, and towards the end of the 

 month the larva of P. lappella is feeding in precisely the same manner. 

 The seeds of Hollyhocks are now being eaten through by the larva of 

 G. malvella, and I have on two occasions bred them from larva feeding 

 on the seeds of the musk mallow ( Malva moschata ) a tall growing plant 

 that is occasionally seen growing on the sides of old gravel pits. The 

 various species of Hawkweed (Hieraciiim) should be examined and the 

 seed heads collected during this month and kept in a cool place, from 

 which in due time a beautiful series of E. dnbitana may be bred, and 

 in the seed heads of the wild carrot the larvae of 5. rufillana will be 

 found quite at home, six or seven larvae are often seen in one seed 

 liead. 



Towards the end of the month we must visit some wood where the 

 oak trees are bearing plenty of acorns, and search the ground under- 



