and has the wings of a yellow colour adorned with orange markings. Many a time, when a boy, have we turned out, cap in hand, to chase this moth among the long grass and clover, careless of wet feet, or of the anger of the farmer whose meadow grass we were not improving! The moth flies with a buzzing, humble-bee kind of flight, hovering over certain spots for some time, so as to form ready captures. The Brimstone moth (Rumia cratægata) comes out in the early part of the evening, and even flies in the day-time. You cannot mistake it, for it is one of our commonest and yet handsomest species, and a blow with a stick at a hawthorn bush will almost be sure to start more than one individual. In the day-time, you will find it resting among the long grass or the hedge bank. Its name conveys to you some idea of its appearance. The wings are of a bright canary yellow, the margins of the forewings being of a brick-red colour. The white- and black-thorns are the shrubs on which the caterpillars feed; hence the scientific name. Equally common is the white Ermine moth (Arctia menthastri) which, as a boy, we remember finding on the grass of the hedge backings, and used to place in the hollow of our hands whilst we roused it by blowing with our breath, to wake it from its sleep! Here, again, we find the popular name conveying a good idea of the insect, for nothing could be more like conventional ermine than the pure white of the fore-wings, speckled with black spots. In June and the early part of July, this moth is very common in our lanes and byroads. The Water Ermine (Arctia urtica) is not quite so abundant, although common; you may readily distinguish it from the foregoing species, for, although about the same size and shape, the wings, though white, are unspeckled. The Buff Ermine again (Arctia lubricipeda)-a very handsome and common object in our evening rambles down the green lanes-is nearly allied to the foregoing, and will be certainly seen by eyes on the look-out for it in such places, about midsummer. The popular name pretty well conveys a good idea of its appearance, especially if you remember that the generic term tells you that in shape and size it resembles those moths just referred to. The Yellowtail moth (Liparis auriflua) is also a common insect, whose white wings and yellow tuft spread out like a fan, lead to its ready identification. The Fox moth (Bombyx rubi) is of a reddish, foxy-brown, and with a good deal of the same colour of fine furry hair about the body-hence its common name. June you can hardly fail to meet with this insect, and its caterpillars are very common on the bramble and the heath in August and September. The Emperor moth (Saturnia carpini) is rarer, and is a gorgeous insect indeed, the wings-of brown, red, and grey shades-being ornamented with eye-like spots, similar to those of the peacock butterfly. The caterpillar makes its appearance about August, and is of a delicate green colour, ornamented with pink In coloured tubercles surrounded by a black ring. April and early May are the times when the moth makes its appearance. But to detail every species of moth that may be met with in a summer evening's ramble would require a separate volume, and that a bulky one. Besides, the student may find in Mr. Newman's 'British Moths' both figures and descriptions of all he meets with; whilst Mr. Stainton has treated on those much smaller yet not less beautifully-marked insects commonly known as the Tineida. All that we have attempted has been to notice such forms as obtruded themselves in our notice during a stroll, rather than to follow a regular insect hunt. Many wonderful and interesting lessons may be learnt from the insects of our green lanes— lessons that, thus acquired in early life, will never be forgotten when older years have brought additional cares! CHAPTER VI. THE BEETLES AND OTHER INSECTS OF THE GREEN LANES. HE most indifferent observer must have had his attention occasionally called to other objects than those described in previous chapters. Forms of creature-life abound at every step, and obtrude themselves upon his notice, look which way he may. With most of these, perhaps with all, he is quite unacquainted; and our desire, therefore, is now to introduce the most prominent of them to his notice as fully as our limits will allow. Beetles are proverbially repulsive objects, although we have a few species whose brilliant metallic colouring relieves them from the general dislike. Some of these are not rare, especially the green Tiger beetle (Cicindela campestris). You may see it actively engaged on some sandy bank, its goldengreen wing-cases and copper-green belly making it look like a living gem. It rises on the wing with |