Quail. — On Epalxiphora axenana. 347 



line of the abdominal segments quite distinct, abdominal feet 

 and claspers well developed, even the anal comb could be dis- 

 tinguished ; the outer spherules about these parts were almost 

 used up. The number of developing embryos within the egg- 

 mass reminds one of a dish of opened oysters. Two days later 

 internal anatomy was well formed, and all external tubercle setae 

 and the jaws of caput becoming chitmous. 



On the eleventh day the caput was very distinct, assuming 

 at first a faint violet hue which gradually darkened to brown, 

 the jaws appearing bright-reddish ; spherules immediately in 

 front of caput were not quite used up. No movement of jaws, 

 but internal pulsation was observed. The larva does not emerge 

 through the micropylar area. 



The newly hatched larva does not eat the egg-shell. Young 

 larvae feed on the under-surface of a leaf beneath a few threads 

 of silk ; later two leaves are drawn together, or, failing this, 

 the leaf is folded over. Piper excelsum is the staple pabulum of 

 Epalx. axenana : the leaves are broad and succulent. In normal 

 seasons it is difficult to find leaves of P. excelsum which are not 

 riddled with holes : one suspects these are made by slugs. The 

 larvae of Epalx. axenana are easily alarmed and drop to the 

 ground ; they are seldom found feeding between leaves which 

 have holes in them : the slugs or whatever cause the holes are 

 probably responsible for a high mortality among them by alarm- 

 ing them away from their food. During the genial season re- 

 ferred to very few leaves of P. excelsum had holes in them (it 

 was a very dry season), and the larvae were plentiful on that 

 plant, and on several other plants and shrubs on which I never 

 found them at any other time. 



The larva (figs. 12, 13, 14) when newly hatched has a very 

 dark-brown head, otherwise it is transparent pale-greenish. The 

 head is flat-elongate, and the mouth parts protrude forwards ; 

 tapering somewhat anteriorly and posteriorly, abdominal seg- 

 ments 1 to 3 are widest, and the 9th narrowest. The whole skin 

 is covered with long spicules ; all setae are smooth. Prothorax 

 has no scutellum ; on either side of medio-dorsal line are three 

 setae anterior marginal and three setae posterior semimarginal, 

 all equidistant. Posterior spiracle circular, prespiracular tubercle 

 bears three setae, tubercle above legs two setae. Abdominal seg- 

 ments : Trapezoidals normal, i. seta short, ii. seta longer, supra- 

 spiracular single long seta, spiracle circular placed on a mid- 

 lateral swelling, the subspiracular is anterior and higher than 

 the post-subspiracular tubercle, single seta each, basal tubercle 

 bears two setae. Abdominal feet have a single row of dark 

 widely spaced hooklets, about twelve in number. 



The larva in its second stage is very pale-greenish colour, 



