THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



79 



months — will inaugurate the " Entomological Year " in earnest by a trip on 

 Easter Monday, supposing that day ahould turn out fine, as is occasionally 

 the case. 



The Bank Holiday which will set free many of those whose occupation 

 prevents them giving up much of their time, excepting on such occasions, 

 will fall too early this year for the majority of the lepidoptera enumerated 

 below. The species mentioned last month are more likely, should the day be 

 mild, to be met with. The coleoptera will be the Tiger beetles (Cicindelida), 

 the Ground beetles [Carabidce), and the species of other families 

 already mentioned. The Lady-birds will be out in numbers on any fine 

 day, and those who desire to make acquaintance with the various species can 

 easily do so. I have not space to do more than merely allude to them now, 

 as I wish to say a few words about the larvae of the Cicindelidce. I do not 

 know whether my readers have ever made the acquaintance of these curious 

 creatures, doubtless some of them have, but for the benefit of others who 

 may not know much about them, I will briefly describe them. I cannot say 

 they are very pretty ; doubtless the insects that fall into their clutches regard 

 them as hideous monsters. Each larvse is white and of a long cylindrical 

 shape, with six scaly feet. On the back are two strong, fleshy tubercles, 

 like horns. Its head is furnished with two strong jaws, and is covered by a 

 large rounded plate. It makes a cylindrical hole in sand at the mouth of 

 which it takes up its position, supported by the tubercle-like horns. It 

 remains there with its jaws expanded and ready to seize on any unwary insect 

 that may come within reach. When the time for its change comes on, it 

 retreats to the bottom of its burrow, where it turns to a pupa. 



To those who have within them a genuine love of nature, an outing on a fine 

 day in April, say towards the end of the month, is very enjoyable. The trees are 

 at that time fast putting on their green mantles, the birds are singing merrily, 

 gaily tinted butterflies flutter in the sunshine, or display their wings as they 

 settle on the ground by the roadside, apparently proud of their beauty. On 

 such days 



The orange tipped lady, the finest of belles, 



And the brimstone glide gaily through sweet primrose dells. 



Most of the butterflies we see are the various species of Vanessidse, which 

 have been hybernating during the winter, but the Common White butterflies 

 (Pieris rapce and P. brassicce) also begin to put in an appearance. 



Not only are the butterflies out and about on a mild April day, but the 

 bees are also stirring in considerable numbers. We see them at the pendant 

 sallow catkins, or other nectar bearing spring flowers. If we examine them 

 we shall see that they mostly belong to the Andrenidce, and to the typical 



