276 Transformations of Cassida obsoleta. 



rounds all the wings; and the white angular discoid dot is 

 too large. These are better represented in the figure in the 

 Naturalist's Library; but the under side there portrayed 

 differs from my specimens in the following respects : — In 

 the figure, there is a continuous band of orange-red round 

 the margins ; while in my specimens it is distinctly separated 

 into spots by the nervures, and the lower part of each spot is 

 white as far as the pupil ; and, in the figure, none of the 

 white central spots have pupils ; while in my specimens most 

 of them are furnished with a small black one. Attention to 

 such minutiae, however, could scarcely be expected in a work 

 of such unrivalled cheapness as the British Diurnal LepidojJ- 

 tera. But, with such slight exceptions as the above, the 

 figures are most admirable likenesses of the beautiful objects 

 they represent. P. A'lsus is not a common species, but is 

 met with occasionally in other localities in this neighbour- 

 hood, besides the one already mentioned. I have taken it at 

 the Hare Craigs, near Broughty, Sands of Barrie, and among 

 the Sidlaw Hills. P. Alexis is very abundant, in every kind 

 of situation, from the airy summit of the mountain, to the 

 deepest recess of the wood ; but they give a decided prefer- 

 ence to warm sandy downs, such as the Sands of Barrie; 

 where, in some seasons, they may be seen in thousands. 

 P. Alexis generally begins to appear in May, and continues 

 to adorn our scenery till the end of September ; so that it is 

 evidently double-brooded : but P. Artaxerxes I have never 

 found after July ; and it is, therefore, likely that only one 

 brood is produced annually. — William Gardiner, jun. Dun- 

 dee, Forfarshire, Jan. 20. 1837. 



Transformations of Cassida obsoleta. — On June 22. 1834, 

 I found, at Will's Braes, the curious larva of this little 

 tortoise beetle feeding on the leaves of Centaurea nigra; 

 and more, at the same place, on Cnicus arvensis, on July 6. 

 These were of an oval form, and flattened, like an Oniscus ; 

 of a dull green colour, with a black heacF, and the sides 

 furnished with a row of blackish branched spines, placed in 

 a horizontal manner nearly all around the body. The re- 

 curved fork at the anus was surmounted by what has been 

 aptly termed the '* stercoraneous parasol" of the insect; and I 

 had occasion to observe that it served it another purpose 

 besides concealing it from its enemies, and sheltering it from 

 the sun's rays. In the box where I placed these creatures, 

 there were several small larvae of lepidopterous insects ; and 

 these frequently attempted to cross over the backs of the 

 Cassidae, when in their way, rather than go round them ; but 

 they always suffered in this attempt ; for the parasols of the 



