THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



11 



up rapidly and emerge in August, while 

 the remainder feed up slowly, and with the 

 larvae of those remaining that emerged in 

 August, pass the winter as full-fed larvae. 

 Further south it may be that the whole feed 

 j up in summer and produce a second brood in 

 ! autumn. In confinement a second or even a 

 j third brood is obtained without difficulty. 

 Mr.Gregson is of opinion that a second brood 

 is never produced in a state of nature, but this 

 does not appear to be correct, for Mr. Bond 

 has found the imago in the fens in August. 

 Evidence is wanting as to whether this is a 

 regular occurrence or only occasional, and I 

 would be glad if south-country readers 

 would give their experience, or if they would 

 try to observe in the coming season. The 

 well-known fact, that more than one brood 

 is easily obtained by keeping them warm 

 and feeding well, makes it evident that there 

 is no natural difficulty in the way, and when 

 the season is favourable, it seems likely they 

 will produce a second brood. It is also 

 desirable to observe whether, where a second 

 brood occurs, if the statement made above 

 on imperfect evidence — that the larvae of 

 this second brood feed up rapidly and pass 

 the winter full fed, as they do when there is 

 but one brood — is fully borne out by the facts. 



The Pupa is enclosed in a rather 

 tough cocoon, which is mixed with the hair 

 of the larva. The cocoon is oval in shape, 

 and varies in colour in accordance with the 

 colour of the hairs spun in with it. 



The Habitat of the Ruby Tiger is in 

 accordance with the habits of the larva. It 

 frequents dry banks, hedge-sides, heaths, 

 warrens, &c., &c. The larva feeds durirjg 

 the day, and hides among the stems at the 

 bottom. In spring it appears to enjoy the 

 morning sun, but, so far as I know, it does 

 not eat after hybernation, and specimens 

 found then, will spin up without further 

 trouble. 



Varieties are rare, except those forms 

 already named, which should rather be 



called races than varieties. Specimens 

 exist with the hind wings yellow, a peculi- 

 arity that obtains with nearly all Bombyces 

 that have any shade of red in their col- 

 ouring. 



The Distribution of the species may 

 be gathered from what has already been said 

 It occurs all over Britain. Abroad it ex- 

 tends all over Europe ; the form called 

 Boreatis being found in Lapland and Scot- 

 land. Fervida is a south European form 

 only found elsewhere occasionally. The 

 type also occurs in north-western Asia, 

 reaching the Amoor Valley. 



MIGRATION OF BIRDS AT 

 HARWICH. 



The following birds have been observed 

 by me this season whilst out shooting : — 



Dunlins. — These birds had arrived by 

 hundreds by the ist August, in all shades of 

 plumage, some old birds with very dark 

 brown breasts. 



Sanderlings. — First seen on the 3rd ; on 

 the 5th large numbers had arrived, some in 

 partial breeding plumage. 



Curlew Sandpipers. — On the 5th I ob- 

 tained one with a red breast out of a flock 

 of about a dozen, and on the 13th I secured 

 another, the latter with only the faintest 

 trace of breeding colour. 



Turnstones. — On the 14th saw several 

 flocks of turnstones, two of which were shot. 

 These were in partial breeding plumage. 

 These birds left again about the 31st August. 



Greenshanks. — First seen on the 14th, 

 again on the i8th and 25th, when one was 

 shot each day. 



Knots (local name Murle Plover). — Saw 

 the first knot on the iSth. This bird had a 

 red breast. These birds continued to in- 

 crease in numbers until the 21st September, 

 on which day- they were flying about the 

 sands in very large flocks. On the 23rd 

 they had all left this part of the coast. 



