186 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



moth or Brindle). This species appears yearly in great abundance during 

 the month of April, being found upon the trunks of trees. Limes, elms, and 

 acacia are the most productive, and they also rest upon thick stems at the 

 at the base of lilac and privet bushes, three and four pairs " in cop " being 

 frequently observed on one tree. It is a most sluggish species, the females 

 seeming to hardly ever to use their wings. I once observed a female which 

 remained in exactly the same spot for twenty-three days, and it would pro- 

 bably have stayed there longer had I not disturbed it in order to see whether 

 it was still alive. From the observations I have made, I should say that the 

 female deposits the whole of her ova within a very small space, always in a 

 deep cleft, or thrust under a loose piece of bark, so that they are not fre- 

 quently observed in the open, though of a very conspicuous bright green 

 colour ; the quantity laid by a single female is something enormous, and 

 were it not for the great number of larvae which perish through the attacks 

 of birds and ichneumons this species would soon increase to a disastrous 

 extent, fortunately, however, large numbers perish from these causes. 

 The larvse, when young, are extremely active, and quickly ascend and spread 

 themselves over the trees ; when nearly full fed they are fond of swinging by 

 a silken thread, or stretching themselves out at full length on the trunk and 

 Under sides of the large branches, being apparently of a gregarious disposition 

 as ten or a dozen may frequently be seen stretched out side by side. When 

 examined, a large number will always be found having the little white spots, 

 •which denote the presence of ichneumon larvse. 



Reaving this interesting species, we come to A. hetularia (Peppered moth), 

 which is one of our good insects, the pupse may be dug during the winter 

 months, a* the foot of poplars, upon which the long straight larvse feed dur- 

 ing August. The perfect insects appear in June, and are not very frequently 

 seen, most of the London specimens being of a very large size. 



BRITISH BIRDS : THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



Bv S, L, MOSLEM 



69. CIRL BUNTING * 

 Emberiza cirlus, Linn* 



Cirlus-^ — ? 



Size.— Length 6 \ in., expanse, 10 iri. 



Plumage-— The male in summer plumage has the bill bluish lead-colour ; 

 eyes hazel; top of head and neck dark olive, the former streaked with black; 

 a dark stripe runs through the eye, and a bright lemon one above and below ; 



