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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



found about the same time namely June and J uiy. It comes readily to sugar 

 but is a wary insect flying off at the slightest alarm. During the day-time it 

 is. frequently observed at rest on fences, etc. The larvae feed in the autumn 

 upon Chenopodium and other low plants and are easily identified by the spira- 

 cular stipe which is white with a narrow line of pink in the centre ; when 

 young -this is a very beautiful larva, but when full fed all the colours become 

 very faint and ill defined. The pupa is of a yellow colour and is very trans- 

 parent, remaining so until very shortly before the emergence of the imago. 

 It may be dug up in our gardens during the winter months. The cosmo- 

 politan Plusia gamma of course extends its visits to town, both imago and 

 larva being common. At the electric lights this species is frequently very 

 abundant, in fact, I think large numbers must get killed from their frantic 

 efforts to dash through the globes. 



Our last species is Mania typica (The Gothic Moth) it is very commonly 

 to be met with in our gardens, hiding during the day under eaves and ledges, 

 and appearing at night in abundance on the flowers and also at the sweets 

 prepared by the entomologist. It is the larvae of this species that so dis- 

 figure the leaves of our garden plants during April and the early part of May ; 

 they apparently will feed upon almost anything but are extemely fond of the 

 Purple Iris or " flags," in which they leave large gaps, each gap representing 

 one night's meal, as they invariably begin in a fresh place when possible. At 

 day-break they hide themselves at the roots, burrowing for a short distance 

 under the earth, or amongst any rubbish that may be about ; consequently 

 they are not frequently seen although so abundant. The Moth is on the wing 

 during June and July; the larvse are hatched during the autumn and 

 hybernate when still very small, feeding up in the spring as described, the 

 pupal state being of very short duration. 



I have now enumerated over 60 species of lepidoptera which can be 

 obtained in town by the Young Naturalist and am well aware that I may 

 have overlooked several species, while if the Micros are added the number 

 would be doubled. I may perhaps be able to continue this list at some future 

 date or perhaps some one more competent will do so in the meantime. A 

 similar list of coleoptera would be much appreciated. 

 London. 



