Marvels of 
probably thrives mainly upon this descending 
sap, but perhaps, as a sort of recreation, works 
up the crude ascending sap in its leaves. 
The favourite host-plant of the Mistletoe 
in the wild state is the black poplar, but it 
has been more widely cultivated on the apple 
in Herefordshire and Normandy. It occurs 
naturally on the wild crab and on various 
conifers, but is very rarely found upon the 
oak, and its seeds are more reluctant to germi- 
nate upon that tree than upon any other. 
When artificially propagated its entire history 
can be recorded, and in this way it has been 
ascertained to attain the respectable age of 
forty years. This in itself is evidence that its 
host does not seriously feel the drain of a 
Mistletoe-bush, although it was recently stated 
that the Herefordshire apple-growers (who 
derive large amounts from its sale at Christmas) 
have decided that the Mistletoe must go. 
AN INSECT IMPOSTOR 
TE family of moths known as Clearwings may 
be regarded as living under false pretences. 
The man in the street who happened to see 
one of them in flight or at rest on a flower 
would never dream that he was looking at a 
moth, but would decide that the creature was 
some kind of fly, or one of the number of 
The 
nice 
stinging insects known as Hymenoptera. 
entomologist, he is’ to 
points of distinction that are invisible to all but 
naturalists, has been struck by these counterfeit 
resemblances, and has enshrined his view of 
the matter in the popular or scientific names 
bestowed upon the insects. 
In this country we have fourteen representa- 
tives of the family, and they all agree in having 
wings you can see through as easily as you 
can through those of a fly or a wasp. Their 
scientific names associate them with likeness 
accustomed as 
to hornets, wasps, bees, ants, ichneumon flies, 
gad-flies, craneflies, gnats, etc. It must be 
confessed that in most of these species the 
resemblance to the insect 
remote; but they fave all a general likeness 
to some insect that stings—though it is hard 
to say honestly which insect. There are at 
named is rather 
the Universe 1067 
Photo by) (2. Step, F.L.S. 
AN 
INSECT 
IMPOSTOR. 
The Lunar Hornet Clearwing Moth in form and colour 
presents a very close general resemblance to a Wasp. 
Photo by] [z. 4 
QUEEN WASP. 
ep, E'.LS. 
A Wasp photographed at the same time as and with 
similar surroundings to the above, for comparison. 
