NOTES ON MELAMPIAS EPIPHRON. 83 



were seen ; but on the '24th, about one hundred ova were counted. In 

 the process of ovipositing, the $ usually alighted at the top of a blade 

 of grass, which it gradually descended head downwards until it 

 approached the base, when it would turn quickly upwards, attaching 

 an egg near the roots, and usually well hidden from view. The ova 

 were laid singlj^ and, only in two instances, did I find two ova in 

 contact, but whether these were laid on separate occasions or not, I 

 cannot state. The most remarkable feature about the ova was the 

 variation in their size, some being quite twice as large as others. The 

 ovum is about twice as long as it is broad, and is delicately ribbed 

 longitudinally, with faint reddish spots showing between the ribs. 

 The newly-laid ova were of a bright canary colour, but very gradually 

 they became darker, until, by the third day, quite a perceptible change 

 in coloration had been effected. On the seventh day some of the 

 larger ova still retained their yellowish coloration, but the majority at 

 this time were of a dull greyish colour, with a faint inclination to a 

 reddish tinge. On August 8th the ova were of a dark greyish-blue 

 colour. The following day it was possible to trace the outlines of the 

 enclosed larvae through the egg-shells, and, on August 10th, the 

 larvae commenced to emerge. The duration of the egg state was thus 

 from eighteen to twenty-one days. The young larvae invariably ate a 

 small portion of the egg-shell whilst hatching, and the remaining egg- 

 shell appeared quite transparent. To the naked eye, the newly- 

 hatched larvio seemed to be of a pale putty colour, the head appear- 

 ing disproportionate on account of its being broader than the body. 

 With the aid of a lens the colour and markings were more distinctly 

 made out, and it was seen that the young larva was light grey in 

 colour, with a dorsal line of a slightly darker grey, extending from the 

 head to the last segment ; the spiracular line appeared very distinct on 

 account of its being flanked on each side by a much lighter line ; there 

 Avas a small black spot on each segment above the spiracular line, and 

 on the face were two black spots. I posted the young larvae to Mr. 

 Alderson, who had been successful in rearing the insect from ova the 

 previous year, but owing to an accident in transit, all the larvae were 

 dead on arrival. 



Even in the breeding-cage, the larvae are difticult to distinguish 

 from their surroundings, hue, in their natural habitat, it is a much 

 more difficult matter to detect them, and the stunted nature of the 

 grass renders it almost impossible to sweep for them. An all-night 

 search for the larva? upon the mountain sides is not a very enjoyable 

 occupation for the entomologist, nor has it the compensation of being 

 profitable. I have spent several nights upon our Cumbrian mountains 

 working for lepidoptera, and would strongly advise anyone who intends 

 working elevated ground after nightfall to select fairly level ground 

 for this purpose, unless one is prepared to take the element of danger 

 which is always present when working rough elevated ground in the 

 darkness. I have very lively recollections of one of these nocturnal 

 expeditions when, on a damp and misty night, I lost my bearings, 

 and judged it prudent to squeeze myself in between two boulders, and 

 there await the coming of dawn. When sufficient light came to 

 enable me to distinguish my surroundings, my feelings can be 

 imagined when I found my.self on the verge of a precipitous face of 



