CHAP. CIV.

BETULa'cE/E. BE TULA.

1703

Russia , where whole tracts of forests of different kinds of trees occur, thereis scarcely any tree more frequently struck by lightning than the birch ; which,he says, refutes the superstitious notion of the Laplanders , who, believingthat the tree is never struck by lightning, seek for shelter under its branchesin a thunder-storm. It has constantly been observed, he says,, that the birchis always struck by the electric fluid transervely, below the top, and shiveredto pieces ; while the pine is ploughed by a deep furrow from the apex to theground, tearing off the bark, and leaving the tree entire. The common birch,Mr. Westwood observes, is a tree upon which a very great number of insectsfeed, seldom, however, causing any mischief of importance. Of these, it will besufficient to notice a few of the more remarkable; indicating by a star thosewhich not only feed on the birch, but on various other trees; and by a daggerthose which feed on the birch only; commencing with the Lepidoptera , thecaterpillars of which, either exclusively or partially, subsist upon its leaves.Amongst the butterflies, the Camberwell beauty (Vanessa Antiopa) is apartial birch-feeder, whilst the brown hair-streak butterfly (Thecla betake)seems to be confined to birch woods ; appearing in the winged state in themonth of August. Amongst the iSphingidte, Smerinthus tilise (the lime hawkmoth) occasionally feeds upon the birch. Amongst the Linnsean Bombyces,the singular lobster caterpillar ( Stauropus fagi) partially feeds upon this tree,,and is met with, though but rarely, at Birch Wood, in Kent. #Leiocampadictse'a and * L. dictseoides, * Lophopteryx eamelina, *L. carmelita, * Ptilo-phora variegsita, * E'ndromis versicolor (the rare glory of Kent moth), thereputed British species * Aglala tau, *Eriogaster lanestris, *Callim6rphaminiata, * Lithosia quadra. Amongst the Woctuidae, * Apatela feporina,*Acronycta auricoma, -I- Ceropacha fluctuosa, * C. flavicornis (the caterpillarof which is a leaf-roller), * Cosmia trapetzina, f C. fulvago, * Brepha notha,* Catocala fraxini. Amongst the Geometridse, * Hybernia capreolaria,*H. prosapiaria, *H. defoliaria, #Phig»lia pilosaria, *Blston prodromarius,*B. betularius, * Hipparchus yjapilionarius , +Cabera exanthemata, -f- Mela-nippe hastiita, -J- Emmelesia heparata. Amongst the smaller moths, f Pla-typteryx fecertula, # Drepana falcataria, * D. ungulcula, * Pyralis barbalis,f Antithesia betuletana, -f- Anacampsis betulea, iEgeria spheciformis (one ofthe small clear-winged hawk moths), and Zeuzera as'sculi (Jig. 636. in p. 887.),feed upon the wood of the birch. The coleopterous insects, Balaninusbetulae, Deporaus betulae, Rhynchites betulae, and Chrysomela betulae, alsofeed upon the birch in the larva state, and are found upon it when they haveattained their imago form, devouring the tender leaves and young shoots.Several species of Tfenthredlnidae, or saw flies, also feed upon the leaveswhilst larvae, including Selandria betuleti, and Lyda betulae. The little flathemipterous insect A'radus betulae resides beneath 1553

tlm bark, whilst A'phis betake, Cdccus betulae, andPsylla betulae subsist upon the young shoots andbuds. When the birch begins to decay, various fungiroot themselves into its wood. The principal of theseare Daedalea ietulina Fries (Algaricus ietiilinus L.,and ouryfg. 1553.), Polyporus detulinus Fries (.Boletus fietulinus Bull. t. 312.),and P. versicolor Fr. (om Jig. 1554.); of these, P.ietulinus generally growson the trunks of dead trees, and has white flesh, which has an acid tasteand smell. The epidermis is very thin and delicate, and easily 1554peels off; when dry the whole plant is very light, and its tex-ture is between coriaceous and corky. (Eng. FI., v. p. 140.)

Polyporus fomentarius (see Q. Eobur) and P. nigricans Fries are also found on the birch. The latter, though called theblack amadou, is quite unfit for making tinder. It is a verydistinct species, and is of a bright shining black, though, whenold, the epidermis becomes cracked, and of a dull ash colour.

■Hadulum orbiculare Fr. FI., 1. p. 149. (ITydnum radula Fries“i/st. Mns., 1. p. 423 .; H. spathulatum Grev. FI. Edin., p. 406.) is found onthe trunks of dead birches. Phlebia radiata Fries grows on the living birch

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