CHAKACTEEISTICS OF LARV-E OF AXOPHELINA. 141 



The Larva (PI. XIX). — Determined on fifteen specimens, 

 drawn from comparison of eight of different sizes and five 

 last moults. 



General aspect. — About the same size and dimensions 

 as f unesta ; translucent at sides, brownish in middle. 



Antenna. — Xo branched hair on shaft, terminal spines 

 equal, hair divides into three. Theobald presents it with six 

 l)ranches, besides the termination of the stem. We are unable 

 to make out more than three in any of our specimens in which 

 satisfactory^ examination is possible. Theobald also states 

 that the spines are unequal, which does not concur with our 

 experience. From this it follows either that this hair is 

 variable and of no specific value, or that, despite the close 

 similarity to his pretoriensis of the imago which we 

 represent, it is really a distinct species. 



Frontal hairs. — Eemarkably uniform; posterior pair 

 relatively short and fine as compared with unbranched 

 posterior hairs in fun est a (PI. XIX, fig. a; PL XV, fig. a). 



Palmate hairs. — Absent entirely from thorax, rudimen- 

 tary on first abdominal segment (PI. XIX, fig. c) well deve- 

 loped, but relatively small for size of larva on second to seventh 

 inclusive (PL XIX, fig. h ; PL XXIY, fig. e). Average radius, 

 O088 mm. Average relation of length of filament to total 

 length of leaflet, together -with filament, as 0'26 to one; maxi- 

 mum, 0"88 ; minimum, 0"20. The contour of the "shoulder" 

 is somewhat variable in this species, and in some specimens 

 the filament is less tapered, and terminates in an abrupt 

 widening of the leaflet with fewer notches at the " shoulder." 



This species is recognised by the three pairs of smooth 

 frontal hairs, the absence of any palmate hair on the thorax, 

 and the relatively small size of these hairs on the abdominal 

 segments. These features of the palmate hairs differentiate 

 it effectively from fun est a. 



Habitat. — Found in slowly-running water in ditches in 

 October, March, April, Ma}*, at one place near sea level and 

 in one locality at 2200 ft. 



Relation to Malaria . — Xo evidence of an v. 



