tm CANADIAN ENfoMoLoGlst. 84? 



In the course of two days and nights sixteen larvae had thus set them- 

 selves free. As each left the egg I took it up with a moistened camel's- 

 hair pencil, and placed it on a tuft of timothy ( Phleuvi pratense, L.J that 

 I had rooted in a small bottle of mud, and soon I had the satisfaction of 

 seeing the young stock begin to feed. 



The fifth day seemed to be a critical period for the larvce, and I lost 

 several. Why this was I cannot tell. I could detect no signs of a moult. 

 Becoming alarmed, I divided my brood, placing half out of doors on an 

 isolated patch of grass, which I protected with a wire dish-cover. This 

 provision proved a failure, for a small ground-beetle found its way to the 

 larvee, and devoured them. I adopted every precaution I could think of 

 to save the six specimens I had left, I was careful to have healthy grow- 

 ing plants of grass always ready for them. I covered them with a glass 

 shade to protect them from sudden changes of temperature. Whenever 

 a mild rain fell I let them have for a few moments the benefit of the 

 shower, and I kept them where they would have plenty of light without 

 being exposed to the extreme heat of the sun. These precautions were 

 crowned with success. I brought several of the larvse to their full growth. 

 and eventually I had the satisfaction of seeing the perfect insect burst 

 from its chrysalis. The following is a detailed account of the insect in its 

 different stages : — 



Newly-laid Egg. — Nearly one-twentieth of an inch in diameter at the 

 base. The shape of a gumdrop — -flat at the bottom and rounded above. 

 Snow-white, and in some lights irrorated with red, blue, and green. 



Egg in the Spring. — Somewhat shrunken — one twenty-fourth of an 

 inch in diameter. Dull white. Surface rough, and slightly indented. 

 Hatched April 20th. 



Note. — P. Manitoba spends eight months, or two-thirds of its 

 existence, in the egg. 



Newly-hatched Larva. — Length, one-tenlh of an inch. Head large, 

 round, jet-black, shining, has an indented line down the middle, and a 

 few whitish bristles scattered over the face. Plate or collar on the 

 second segment glossy black. First pair of legs black. Colour of body, 

 that of yellow wax, marked at wide intervals with round brownish spots. 

 The second and third pairs of true legs and the pro-legs, the same 

 colour as the body. The creature spun a slight web for a rest, something 



