THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



223 



winged males I was quite unsuccessful in finding the slightest trace of a 

 fourth wing, even microscopically, though I do not say it was not there. 



I would also like to point out an important fact that seems to have quite 

 escaped notice, that is, that in certain pupse of wingless females there are no 

 wiug cases. I have not specimens by me at present, but I believe I am cor- 

 rect in saying that 0. antiqua, Pseudo-bombycella, and the Psycidce have no 

 wing cases, but Hybernias and N. zonaria have as long wing cases as the 

 male. 



There is also a hint thrown out in the " Intelligencer," which conveys the 

 idea that certain insects, which at other places have fully developed wings, 

 are found at Madeira to have lost their wings. 



One more grievance. Mr Cross's notion of the large wings of the male is 

 absurd, and I cannot see where his conclusive evidence comes in. He has, 

 or I should ask him if he has, ever seen a fly carry its partner, and yet we do 

 uot find the male fly, with wings several hundred times larger than his mate 

 — it would look rather ridiculous if he had — and if a fly can carry his winged 

 partner, it is not necessary for the female brumata to be serni-aplerous in 

 order that her spouse may carry her. — Yours truly, F. N. Pierce. 

 143, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool. 



THE PARASITES OF OUR BUTTERFLIES. 



By G. C. BIGNELL, F.E.S. 



I have been looking carefully through the entomological magazines of the 

 last twenty years, with the endeavour to find out all the records of the para- 

 sites from lepidopterous larvae during that period, and I am astonished I have 

 found so very few ; in fact I find scarcely any at all until within the last 

 seven years. The reason, of course, cannot be that no parasites were bred, 

 it must rather be that books on the subject are not to be had, so collectors 

 generally cannot find out the names of such parasites as appear in their cages. 



No doubt beginners don't like the disappointment of seeing an ichneumon 

 emerge, instead of the expected butterfly or moth, still I can assure them, 

 from my own experience, that if they will turn their attention to the ichneu- 

 mons, they will find the study extremely interesting. 



There are many points in the life-history of these parasites, which, to the 

 nind of one who is willing to be taught, show forth the wisdom of the Great 

 Creator's work, and there is wonderful interest to be found in considering 

 tfhat I may call the balance of life, which through the agency of these small 

 features is continually kept up. 



I 



