THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



125 



species of coleoptera can be found under 

 stones, as Reicheia, Anillus, Briaxis, Cephen- 

 nium, Raymondia, Crypharis, &c. 



The masses of dry leaves, the vegetable 

 detritus of forests, the grassy clods around 

 the foot of trees, the base and holes of j 

 voluminous stones and of walls are also the 

 winter quarters of insects. Old barks of 

 trees, their wood itself, the stems and 

 branches of humbler vegetables are in 

 winter the shelter of many other species of 

 insects, which, surviving to a great number 

 of generations disappeared with summer, 

 will in spring purvey to multiply the indi- 

 viduals of their species. 



In the same manner caverns, the mud of 

 pools, timbers and wooden furniture of 

 men's houses are as many winter quarters 

 of insects ; and those who live as parasites 

 of other animals and also of other insects, 

 follow their victim even in their winter 

 hiding places or in emigration. May we 

 compare the hibernation of insects with that 

 of other superior animals, as bats, dormice, 

 marmots, many reptiles, &c. ? Some entom- 

 ologists observe that the winter quarters of 

 insects are a very light shelter against the 

 coldest temperatures, and the resistance of 

 insects to cold is much superior to that of 

 other animals. 



It has been tried to expose insects even to 

 frigorific mixtures, and many of them have 

 resisted. 



Hibernation of insects cannot be consid- 

 ered but as a providential means to preserve 

 these living creatures from the terrible war 

 of the elements. — P. Bargagli." 



BRITISH MOTHS: 



By John E. Robson, 



(Assisted by Contributors to the Y-N.) 



II. GoNOPTERiD^ contains but one Euro- 

 pean species Gonoptera libatnx, whose bright 

 colours and indented forewings makes it 

 very conspicuous. The larvae have sixteen 



legs, and feed on the leaves at the end of 

 willow shoots. The pupa is enclosed in a 

 cocoon, among the leaves on the tree. 



INTRUSiE contains three families, all 

 represented in Britain, though we have but 

 seven species. They are rather large insects, 

 one expanding nearly three inches, but dull- 

 coloured. The larvae have sixteen legs, and 

 the pupa is sometimes underground. Three 

 families are represented here. 



I. Amphipyrid^;, with four species, 

 mostly of largest size. Forewings smooth 

 and shining, the abdomen sometimes very 

 much flattened. Larva with sixteen legs, 

 tapering to the head. Pupa in a cocoon on 

 the surface, or subterranean. 



II. ToxocAMPA contains but two species, 

 one of which is a recent discovery, and is rare. 

 The forewings are grey, and there is a 

 black collar in front of the thorax. The 

 larvae taper to each end, and have sixteen 

 legs. 



III. STiLBiDiC contains but one species, 

 S. anomala. As its name implies it is an 

 anomalous species, that may not be rightly 

 located here. The larva has sixteen legs, 

 and is more of the usual Noctua form than 

 the last few named. It goes below the sur- 

 face to pupate. 



LIMBATiE. Only one family is repre- 

 sented in Britain. 



C.\T0CALiD^, containing the well-known 

 red underwing, scarlet underwing, &c. It 

 contains four species of considerable size, 

 the Clifden Nonpareil (C. fraxini, expand- 

 ing four inches. They may be known by 

 their gaily coloured hind wings ; three of 

 the British species having them red or 

 scarlet, and the other pale blue. The larva 

 is twig like, but have sixteen legs. They 

 often rest, as do some of the Geometrae, 

 attached by the anal claspers only, and the 

 body stretched out, resembling a small twig. 

 The pupa is in a cocoon among leaves or in 

 a crevice of the bark. 



