266 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



(Hepialus humuli), and that of the common Swift-moth (Hepialus lupuli- 

 mis.) The forme* seems to prefer dock and nettle roots to any others, the 

 latter feeds indiscriminately on the roots of a large number of herbaceous 

 plants, both wild and cultivated. 



But the micro-lepidoptera furnish the bulk of the larvae which the entomo- 

 logist may find by diligent search in December. Thus the larvae of Halonota 

 cirsiana live in the stems of thistles, as also do the pinkish ones of Halonota 

 scutulana ; those of II, fenella feed in the stems and roots of mugwort 

 (Artemisia vulgaris), and the roots of this plant likewise affords subsistence 

 to the larvae of Bicrorampha simpliciana, whilst another of the genus (B. 

 petiveranaj finds sustenance the roots of yarrow (Achillea millefolium.) The 

 little, pale yellow, brown-headed caterpillars of Eupacilia strobilana feed on 

 the cones of the spruce fir, and those of E. roseana live in teasel heads. They 

 are green in colour, with black heads. 



The following Tineina larvae may all be found in December, although some 

 are local and scarce. Talaporia pseuda-bombycella in a case on lichens, 

 growing on palings ; Lampronia pmlatella in a flat case on the underside of 

 wild strawberry leaves; Teichohia verhuellella, which barrows under the 

 fructification of wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) and hartVtongue fern 

 Scolopendrium vulgare) ; Incurvaria masculella and T. ochlmanniella, both 

 of which live in flat cases among fallen leaves, the former is by far the com- 

 monest. In addition to these may be mentioned Adela Be-Geerella, which 

 lives in a flat case on wood anemone leaves ; the tiny pinkish larvae of Gele- 

 chia ajjmis, with a black head, living in moss on old walls ; G. bifractella in 

 common fleabane seeds (Inula dysenterica), and also in those of plough-man's 

 spikenard (Conyza squarrosa) ; G. cerealella in grains of wheat and barley, 

 G. subocelella in a case formed of marjoram flowers ; Parasia lappella in 

 burdock seeds, P. Metzneriella below the seeds of black knapweed (Centau- 

 rea nigra), P. carlinella underneath the seeds of carline thistles; Coleophora 

 juncicolella on heath in a case formed of small heath leaves, C. solitariella 

 in a whitish case on stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), C. albitar sella in a 

 slender blackish brown case on ground ivy and marjoram, C. caspitella on 

 seeds of rushes ; and Chrysoclyta linneella under bark of lime trees, in colour 

 the last is yellowish white with a pale brown head. 



And, in addition to these, there are the larvae of A&ychna mratella living 

 inside pod-like galls, occurring on knot-grass (Polygonum aviculare) ; Ela- 

 chista gangabella mining the leaves of rough cock's-foot grass (Bactylis 

 glomerata ) ; Elachista tceniatella in slender false broom grass (Brachyopodium 

 sylvaticum, and Elachista rufocinerea in the leaves of creeping soft grass 

 (Holcus mollis!) All these may be found in mild Decembers, as well as 



