JUNE. 
223 
belong to the beautiful Royal Tiger Moth ( Arctia Virgo J, 
and remain in the pupa state about four weeks. 
(7. — I must tell you of a sad misfortune that has befallen 
me : a rascally mouse has managed to find access to my 
setting-board^ and destroyed a good many insects^ some of 
them valuable ones ; eating the bodies, and leaving the 
mangled and scattered wings. 
F. — Mice seem pretty fond of insect diet^ for they will 
always commit these depredations at every opportunity : I 
have myself suffered from the same cause. 
C. — Look ! what a congregation of butterflies on that 
little muddy spot ! and all of one species, the Clouded Sul- 
phur f Colias Philodice J. I should think there are near 
twenty within a square foot. 
F, — This species is very fond of assembling in such 
places to assuage thirst, but other butterflies have the same 
habit : I once saw fifteen of the Tiger Swallowtail f Papilio 
Turnus J in a space not exceeding a foot square ; and my 
brother soon after counted fifty-two of the same fine species 
together ; besides many more which were hovering about the 
spot, on the wing. See ; here is an instance of 
tyranny and rapine, though on a small scale. A large flat 
Bug f Pentatoma J has caught an unfortunate caterpillar, and 
plunged his sucker, or rostrum, into its body ; this rostrum is 
usually bent up under the breast ; but now it is extended 
straight from the head, holding the caterpillar at the end of 
it. Observe how fiercely he holds on, and won't let me take 
it away from him. All the bug tribe are carnivorous, and 
live by sucking the juices of other insects, and sometimes of 
larger animals. I have succeeded in rearing plant bugs to 
the perfect state, by supplying them with house-flies, which 
I maimed and threw into the box. 
C. — I have caught, near the river, one or two Day-flies 
