THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



27 



to the sallow catkins, at night. These blooms also prove very attractive to 

 many species which have hybemated, and also to Tceniocampa cruda, slabilis, 

 instabilis, munda, gothica, and a few others. By spreading a cloth or hold- 

 ing a beating tray underneath, and then shaking the bushes, most of these 

 species are readily obtained, as, upon the slightest alarm they feign death, 

 dropping down from the catkins and remaining motionless ; hence they are 

 very easily boxed. Of course this operation must be performed after dusk, the 

 catkins being unproductive to the lepidopterist in the day time, except 

 when they occur in large birch plantations in which case the lively Brepkos 

 parthenias, or "March high-flyer" may be expected on the wing during the 

 first, bright, sunny, March days. As their name implies, they fly rather high, 

 and it is advisable to have a moderately long stick to the net when wishing 

 to procure specimens for the cabinet. Our list is now almost exhausted, but 

 two more species may be found in Pine woods, viz. : Trachea piniperda, and 

 Tep/irosia crepuscularia ; the former rests upon the pine trunks and in the 

 thick foliage, also coming to sallow catkins at night, the latter is always ob- 

 served resting upon the pine trunks, and from its large size and light colour, 

 is very conspicuous even at a distance. It is very common, three and four fre- 

 quently being observed resting upon one trunk ; the base of larch trees 

 seeming to be their most favourite position. 



The Micro-lepidopterist can add still further to our list, in the March 

 Dagger moth (Chimabacche fagella) and Tortricodes hyemana. the former, 

 which has a semi-apterous female, is found on fences and oak trees, while the 

 latter is found in the same situations, and also flying in the sunshine, and 

 resting on the withered brakes, which they exactly resemble in colour. 



Having now enumerated all, or nearly all of the species which are to be 

 obtained in the perfect state, at the present season near London, it remains to 

 remind my readers that on warm evenings in March, many larvae may be 

 obtained feeding upon grasses and low herbage : by rearing these, the lepi- 

 dopterist obtains in a short time, and with very little trouble, many species 

 of Noctuae, and a few Geometrae. The sallow catkins should also be carefully 

 collected and kept rather moist, and in due time the larvae of Xanthia cerago 

 and silago, will be observed upon them. These larvae should then be re- 

 moved and supplied with shoots of sallow or willow, and they will very soon 

 go under ground, but, as they do not change into pupae for about two months 

 after that, they should not be disturbed. Eupithecia tenuiata is also bred 

 from the sallow catkins, but the larvae being small, are not frequently seen : 

 the catkins should therefore be kept in a case, and watched in May for the 

 insects (if any) to appear. 



By beating fir trees, the larvae of Them variata } fir)iiata, and Miopia fasci* 



