114 
THE WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST. 
If they should fail (but there are few 
gardens whose currant trees are not 
blessed with their presence) let them 
visit their neighbours trees, and there 
is little reason to doubt that they will 
succeed. Most species in the genus 
Trochilium are to be taken in this 
way in their localities but no other is 
so generally distributed as that last 
named. 
Many of the Clear- wings may be 
captured while drying their wings on 
the stem of their food plant, after 
emerging from the pupa, Among 
these we find most of those which 
feed in the trunks of large trees, — 
such as T. Scoliceforme on birch, S. 
Bembeciformis on poplar, and others. 
Of course the best way to obtain all 
the species in the group, is to breed 
them, — though this is not very gen- 
erally adopted. The larvae have to 
be cut out from the wood of trees, on 
which they feed, and are so excessively 
local that, once the locality found, 
there ought to be no difficulty in pro- 
curing them. 
The two species of the genus Sesia 
require quite a different method. 
Their wasp-bodied cousins ( Sphecia ) 
are tame creatures, and quietly, on 
the trunks of the trees that have 
afforded them food, await the ap- 
proach of the collector; — but these 
two wild Arabs are not long “ out,” 
before they are on the wing, and 
then, — a net is necessary to catch 
them. S. Bombyliformh has the 
reputation of being attached to the 
flowers of the Blue bell, — we believe 
justly, — but we have ourselves often 
trudged many a mile to a locality 
where Blue bells abounded, and stayed 
there for. hours, without ever seeing 
so much as the ghost of a Bombyli- 
formis. We are not well acquainted 
with the habits of its congener ( Fuci- 
formis,) which is a much rarer insect, 
but it is, probably, not exclusively 
attached to any one flower. Both 
these species are very local, — the latter 
especially. 
Now do not let any young Entom- 
ologist, on reading these directions, 
make up his mind that he will form 
a fine collection of Clear-wings next 
season. If he captures two or three 
Bpecies, he may think himself lucky, 
— for a collection of these insects 
anything like complete, need only be 
hoped for, as the result of a long 
series of years devoted to painstaking 
and persevering effort. 
The Weekly Entomologist may be 
obtained of Mr. T. Blackburn, 
Bowdon, Cheshire, by post, price 
Three Shillings and Three Pence 
per quarter, prepaid. 
Also of C. Andrew, 129 High St. 
Cheltenham, J. Brown, 2 Collingate, 
York, and S. Styles. 163, North St. 
Brighton. 
After October 4th. 1 862, the price 
of No. 1. of the “Entomologist” 
will be four-pence. The other num- 
bers may still bo had, — price two- 
pence each. 
% 
Remittances should bo sent in Tost 
Office Orders or Stumps. 
