THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



189 



woods, as at Eastham, &c, whilst Aniiclea 

 badiata and derivata frequent lanes and fields: 

 the first v.-here bramble bushes grow, flying 

 in the evening ; and the latter in the old lanes 

 and along the foot-walks near the hedges at 

 Oxton and Prenton, where roses and sallows 

 are abundant. 



The true nocture will vary little from the 

 list given for March, but they will be in greater 

 profusion in one case, whilst in another they 

 are getting more scarce, but Cylocampa 

 lithoriza appears only in April, so far as I 

 know, and this insect is most abundant in our 

 district around Birkenhead and Bidston, on 

 old hedge-row trees, or upon posts. The 

 scarce CuculUa chamomilke also puts in an 

 appearance this month — the 1 7th is the earliest 

 date I have for its capture. It is also found 

 at rest, especially around the sand hills, on 

 both sides of the river, on posts and rails. 

 The long row of rails from Seaforth to 

 Waterloo, on the shore, should be well ex- 

 amined for it. 



Many small moths may be met with this 

 month ; Pyrausta punicealis, H. cespitalis, and 

 Ennychia congulalis, where wild thyme grows 

 on the Wallasey sand hills. Many of the 

 genus Depressaria near old stacks, and also the 

 glorious genus Micropteryx, shining like the 

 sun they bask in. 



Larvae still claim our special attention, and 

 the larva of Epunda lichenea is now in fine 

 condition for collecting ; the nearest locality 

 for it is in the lane which leads from Wallasey 

 Church to the large Boarding School on the 

 way to New Brighton, and close to Walasey 

 Mill, wherever the stone crop grows. They, 

 like many other species, come up to feed about 

 9 p.m. It is also abundant in the lanes around 

 Formby Station on the " Cops " or hedge. 



Beetles are now everywhere. The genus 

 Amara and Asphodeus cross our path whenever 

 the sun shine. Examine every Amara you 

 see for the red antennaeed species. A . 

 bruner or oricholica ! Broscinis cephalotes is just 

 appearing on the coast, it ha3 a peculiar 

 penchante for old timber, if you can find any 



there, under it you may find the large but 

 ■ disagreeable smelling insect, and Cicendella 



kybrUa is also to be got near sandhills. I 

 I have looked in vain for its ally, C. maritima, 



but perhaps you will be more fortunate. 

 1 Once seen there is no mistaking it. Maritima 



is not so stout or strong as kybrida, and the 



markings on it are always angular — thus 



IT 



i whilst on kybrida, they are not so prominent 

 : in their characters, or even so angular. The 

 . genus Dyschireus is in thousands in damp bare 

 ' places near the shore, where water has lain 

 ■■ during the winter months, and may be found 

 : by observing the sinuous markings, which 

 . shows plainly on the ground as the sand 

 : which is raised to form the borrows dries, thus 



By scratching into this with the finger, the 

 back of D. poiitus, D. impunchperus, and 

 especially D. tlioracicus will be bared, a bright 

 black spot on the ground, or the food it is in 

 search of will be seen to be a "staph," but I 

 fear my young friends have scarcely ventured 

 upon '■ staphs," or I should say this month is 

 the great harvest for them. They may be 

 gathered by simply laying a white sheet or 

 paper out anywhere where the sun shines, 

 and picking them off as they alight, or by 

 examining the inside of all sorts of flowers, 

 dead animals, &c, &c. No pond or ditch 

 should be passed carelessly. Now April is 

 here, life is everywhere, and with a fair field, 

 and no favour, I say go gather the wonderful 

 creatures around you, study them and their 

 ways, and return home humbled but happier, 

 and give your knowledge as freely as nature, 

 in her might has given it to you, always 

 remembering that the secret of success lie* 

 under the little word work. 



