THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



207 



gay Cinnabar {Euchelia jacobcea) , the weak flight of which renders it an easy 

 capture. The Tigers are represented by Arctia caia fcaja), the Ermines by 

 A. menihastri and A. Inbricipeda. 



I must not forget the delicate "Brown-tail moth (Liparis chrysorrliaa), 

 a somewhat local species. The larvae of this species, and of L. 

 auriflua, the much commoner Gold-tail, are possessed of remarkably 

 severe uticating properties, and may not be handled with impunity. 

 The hedges near the canal literally swarmed with them some seasons 

 ago, their cocoons, too, might have been found in almost every bush of white- 

 thorn, and the pernicious effects of the hairs with which the caterpillar is 

 covered, and which it weaves into its cocoon, were to be felt long after the 

 imagines had emerged. Por months I could not beat that hedge for moths 

 without suffering the most intolerable irritation in my hands and face, which 

 were speedily covered with little white swellings. It seems to have been as- 

 certained that the pain is caused by poisonous acid, secreted by a gland at 

 the base of the hairs. 



Amongst the Geometers, I may mention TJrapteryx mmlucata, Selenia 

 illunaria, Crocallis elinguaria, Minomos tiliaria, E. angularia, Amjohydasis 

 betularia, Geometra papilionaria, Acidalia incanaria. 



In the family of the Pyralidse, I may chronicle the capture of a specimen 

 of the somewhat local Spilodes palealis. In out-houses, the pretty little 

 Pyralis fimbrialis, is usually more or less common, and at a lamp near 

 the house Pyralis glaucinalis, not altogether a rare visitant in the proper 

 season. 



Without doubt, the way to catch moths with the least trouble, and one 

 which I did not neglect to adopt, is to smear the trunks of trees, &c, just 

 before dark, with a mixture of sugar, beer and rum boiled together, to which * 

 the moths are attracted, and quickly becoming intoxicated may be easily 

 secured in chip boxes of various sizes. I cannot help thinking that " sugar- 

 ing" does not pay quite as much as it used to do. Moths are getting 

 too wise to be taken in by the saccharine baits, each generation profiting 

 by the experience of its predecessors. Some have lately tried to show that 

 caterpillars are possessed of reasoning powers. I do not see why we should 

 deny the faculty to the perfect insect, so that the time may come when we 

 may sugar indeed ; but moths, were they possessed of those members, will but 

 apply "the finger of scorn to the nose of derision." Whether this may be a 

 case of inherited instinct, I leave to my friends the evolutionists to determine. 

 Be that as it may some silly moths did come to my trees last year, and paid 

 the penalty of their indiscretion. To most of them I can but just refer. 



