[49] 



Selecteb IRotea from tbe Societij'0 



Tail of Larva of Puss-Moth, Cerura vinula (PI. VI., Fig. lo). 

 — The tails, two in number, are more fully developed in the young 

 larva than in the adult, where they appear to decay or shrivel up 

 from the end downwards, so that by the time the larva is ready to 

 assume the pupal form, I have known the tail to have entirely 

 disappeared. In the young larva they are long and black, and 

 when the insect is alarmed it assumes a most comical position, 

 throwing up the end of its body and raising its head, only holding 

 on by the middle feet (see PI. VIII., Fig. 3) ; and, what is most 

 remarkable, the tail throws out a long, thread-like membrane, 

 which is withdrawn after the cause of alarm has disappeared. 

 Two questions occur to me : — Are these appendages used 

 by the young larva as a means of defence from the attacks of the 

 Ichneumons, which have an especial liking for depositing their 

 eggs in the body of the -larva of C. vinula ? and. Are the red 

 threads poisonous, or merely used as a whip to keep off the 

 enemy ? I fancy, if fellow-members or readers would record their 

 ideas and observations on the subject, it would meet with much 

 approval. 



It is curious to observe the various ways by which larvae show 

 their fear or disapproval of being disturbed. The larvae of the 

 Sphinges throw back their head and fore-part of the body, waving 

 it to and fro as if very angry at being interrupted at their meals ; 

 whilst most of the hairy larvae — such as Arctia caja and others — 

 roll themselves up in a ball and drop, not caring where, for their 

 long hair prevents their receiving any injury ; but if by chance 

 they fall into water, as they sometimes do, they very quickly unroll 

 themselves and struggle to get out. Then, again, the Loopers, or 

 larvae of the Geometridce^ often assume a position exactly resem- 

 bling a branch or a twig, holding on only by the anal claspers, as 

 in Fig. 4, PI. VIIL; and so closely do they resemble the twig that 

 an experienced collector will often overlook rare and valuable 

 larvae when they are just under his very eyes.* This strong 

 resemblance between insects and their food-plants is also most 

 strikingly shown in many tropical insects, as all naturalists are 

 aware, and is a grand provision of Providence for their protection. 



E. LOVETT. 



* We once plucked a small branch of the wild rose, and had carried it in 

 our hands for half-an-hour, before discovering that a full-grown '* Looper " 

 was attached to it. — Ed.] 



VOL. V. E 



