THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



67 



study of entomology. The president con- 

 sidered the sixty-six pages of introduction 

 as most complete, containing the fullest 

 instructions in small compass he had ever 

 met with for the young entomogist. Their 

 member, Mr. Mosley, had not published as 

 many numbers of his beautiful hand-painted 

 works on iepidoptera as they could desire. 

 Only one number of "Varieties," and three J 

 numbers of "European Butterflies" had 

 appeared during the past twelve months. 

 No doubt such works required great labour, 

 and involved much time in their preparation, 

 but it was most important that especially 

 his "European Butterflies" should be 

 completed. The president concluded by 

 saying it had been suggested that the society 

 should compile and publish a list of the 

 local Iepidoptera to present date. Their 

 townsman Mr. Gregson contributed valuable 

 articles on this subject — viz., the Iepidoptera 

 of Liverpool and its district, in the transac- 

 tions of the historic society of Lancashire 

 and Cheshire for 1855 and 1858 inclusive ; 

 but it would be most useful to the members 

 of the society and collectors generally if he 

 could publish in a concise form for reference 

 a catalogue as complete as possible to 

 present. This was an undertaking, he felt 

 sure, in which all the members would be 

 able to give valuable assistance. He 

 suggested, therefore, that this should be 

 be made a prominent feature in the work of 

 Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological 

 Society for the year 1884. 



Rare Birds at Carnforth. — I had 

 brought to me during January two Pentail 

 Ducks (Anas acuta), one male and one 

 female. I had also brought me on the 14th 

 February a fine male of the Long-tailed 

 Duck (Anas glacialis). All were shot in the 

 bay here, and are the first of the species I 

 have known occur in this neighbourhood. — 

 Hy. Murray, Carnforth. 



THE "YOUNG NATURALIST 

 ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE 

 OF BRITISH INSECTS. 



LEPIDOPTERA, Plate 3. 

 Genus Lithocolletis (i). 



The genus Lithocolletis is composed 

 of some of our smallest, yet most beautiful, 

 moths. In the larva state they mine the 

 leaves of trees and plants, some under the 

 upper and some under the under cuticle of 

 the leaf. They change to pupae in the mine 

 and the imagines may be bred by gathering 

 the leaves after they fade in the autumn. 

 We have about forty-six species. Most, if 

 not all, of them are double-brooded, and 

 some are so very similar that the species 

 cannot be satisfactorily determined unless 

 the insects are bred. The following table 

 is copied from " Stainton's Manual," and 

 will give a general outline of the genus : — 



a. F-w. saffron ; no basal streak ; with 

 costal and dorsal white streaks ; the first 

 costal opposite the second dorsal-L. A myotella. 



a. a. F-w. white, with distinct oblique dark 

 streaks or lines. 



b. An oblique dark fascia from the base 

 of the costa L. Roboris. 



b.b. The dark markings form distinct an- 

 gulated fasciae . . . .L. hortella and L. sylvella. 



b. b.b. — The dark markings are only slender 

 lines. .L.Cramerella, L.Tenella & L.Heegeriella. 



a.a.a. F-w. saffron, pale ochreous or dark- 

 ish brown, with pale or outlined basal streak, 

 and with pale marginal streaks. 



c. Basal streak distinctly paler ; marginal 

 streaks generally with distinct dark margins 

 towards the base. 



d. First costal streak long, projecting 

 beyond the first dorsal streak. .L.AlnifoUella. 



d.d. The first pair of streaks unite and 

 form a fascia . . L. nigrescentella, L. irradiella, 

 generally, and was likely to popularise the 



