INSTRUCTIONS IN LEPIDOPTERA. 
19 
vain to examine the dense portions, it is equally vain to dig 
at the roots of trees in such localities, and you will rarely find 
anything unless upon trees of considerable growth ; the thick 
moss which collects about the trunks and roots is the part 
to be examined. Bombyces are generally found under the 
moss which covers spreading roots and not on the trunks, 
which seem to be preferred by the Geometrce. The best 
localities in woods are the borders or open places; such 
places when elevated or facing the north are generally the 
most productive. Hedge-rows it is perfectly useless to try; 
why it should be so, I cannot tell. The only instrument I 
use is a common garden trowel; the form is immaterial, 
perhaps a rounded blade is best, as passing with greater ease 
between the roots. The trees which I have found the most 
productive are the following,—elm, oak, ash, poplar, beech, 
willow and alder. In digging, it must be borne in mind 
that all pupae are close to the trunk of the tree, seldom more 
than two inches distant; frequently the trunk of the tree forms 
one side of the cocoon, especially the cocoon of such insects 
as spin; the chrysalis also lies almost invariably close to the 
surface of the earth. Insert the trowel about three inches 
from the trunk, to the depth of two inches or so; then push 
without 6 tfee I 1 " 1 UP; if the Soil be dl 7 and friable, 
sufficient 0 '"if * ge " tly with tIle trowel > "hich "’ill be 
more cau’ti ’l 10 ' Vever ’ there be S rass you must proceed 
very gently with' t! t " P Z ** 0 " ^ left hand ’ knock * 
t * t ie tr °wel, and those pupae which merely 
enter the ground will drop out; to find Le 
grLZZnZf' CXamine the S ° d ’ tearin S tbe roots of the' 
• fmd the ’ 1650 V- ° f C ° UrSe much tbe most difficult 
earth ’l f s !!Pt gene, ' alIy ° f the col °- * the 
eaterpfila * °- ^ ^™ ds > tbe 
n,oss the bestpffin " m U; in Searchin S under 
plan ,s to loosen the edge, then to tear ft gently 
