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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



dition for setting. Then again, there is no danger of verdigris, nor can the 

 abdomen of the insect break away from the thorax as so frequently happens 

 with pinned specimens. And furthermore, the insects are anatomically perfect 

 with their proper number of legs and a thorax, which can hardly be said of a 

 pinned "Nepticula" 



In conclusion, let me urge upon young naturalists particularly the adoptiion 

 of this new method, especially for their Micros. For an old entomologist 

 with an extensive collection this is a great innovation and a sacrifice of 

 uniformity hardly to be expected of those who want but a few speeies to com- 

 plete their cabinets. But for the young entomologist just beginning the study 

 of the Micros no such sacrifice is required, and a fair trial of the system will 

 I am persuaded result in its ultimate adoption. 

 24, Fleming Road, Lorrimore Sq., S.E. 



SOME COLEPTEROUS LARVAE. 



By H. WALLIS KEW. 



The lepidoptera may be reared from their larval state with comparatively 

 little trouble ; their larvae being in many cases conspicuous and beautiful, 

 and thus easily found. This is, however, by no means the case with regard 

 to Coleopterous larvae. The substances upon which many of these larvae 

 feed are of a perishable and often of a repulsive nature, and the larvae them- 

 selves frequently remain concealed, and in but few cases can they be called 

 either conspicuous or beautiful. Although the above may be taken as a 

 general rule, like all other rules it has its exceptions. There are indeed some 

 of the smaller coleopterous larvae which may be reared with less trouble than 

 the caterpillars of the Cabbage Butterfly. And these the young naturalist 

 will find very interesting, even thongh, like the writer, he may not make 

 coleoptera his special study. While out collecting botanical specimens, or 

 otherwise endeavouring to make Natural History an excuse for recreation, 

 I have carelessly boxed and taken home the larvae of Chiloclwrus renipustula- 

 tus, Cassida viridis, and Coccinetta 7 -punctata ; the perfect insects of which 

 have in each case appeared in the box in which the larvae were placed, in a 

 very short time and without any trouble on my part. 



One holiday afternoon (23rd August, 1884-), while in a wood with a 

 friend in search of " Crabs " {Pyrus mains), the fruit of which my friend 

 considered a necessary ingredient in the manufacture of home-made ff chut- 

 ney," I came across the larvae of Chilochorus renipustulatus for the first 

 time. My friend had climbed into the branches of one of the pomiferous 



