NATURE STUDY. 
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each having on its blunt end a circle of minute hooks curv¬ 
ing away from the common center. On the under surface 
of the last segment are two semi-circles of a similar nature. 
Scattered over the general surface of each segment are a 
few reddish hairs, while on the sides of the segmemts are 
the small oval spiracles. 
You will at once recognise that this larva is a borer which 
has developed by feeding upon the pith of the primrose 
stem. As it has fed it has made partitions at the end, 
by weaving its castings together with silk, keeping the in¬ 
ner surface smooth. When winter came on, it was half 
grown, and remained quietly within the shelter of the stem. 
Here it was dry and free from the attack of birds and pre¬ 
daceous insects. 
In the spring these borers change to pupae, to emerge, 
soon afterwards, as small moths. As there are two or three 
broods it is probable that these moths deposit their eggs 
in the stems of young plants. 
This inseGt belongs to the family Tineidae which includes 
so many families of leaf-miners. Technically, it is called 
Laverna eloisella. 
In many of the cell spaces you are likely to find a differ¬ 
ent sort of larva. It is white rather than yellow, oblong 
rather than cylindrical, and footless rather than furnished 
with legs. This is the larva of a parasite. It has killed 
and eaten the Eaverna larva. If you keep it carefully you 
may be able to see its change to a pupa, and later to an ich¬ 
neumon fly of the genus Tirnpla. 
II. THE EGG MASSES ON THE SHADE TREES. 
During the fall and winter months one may frequently 
find upon the trunks and larger branches of elm and maple 
trees, whitish patches, easily visible some distance away, 
which, on closer examination, are found to consist of thin, 
gray cocoons, attached to the bark, partially covered with 
