19)0.] 75 



them clearly, I need enter on no tedious descriptions. The points to 

 be noted are the length of the spine as compared with its clasper, the 

 size and shape o£ its body, and the size and shape of the spur. 



At the time this investigation was undertaken, both Mr. Bankes 

 and myself were under the impression that we had to deal with an 

 assemblage of closely allied forms, but later it became plain that, 

 instead of a single natural group, we had before us tivo, distinguished 

 not only by the imaginal markings, but still more by the form of the 

 appendages, the mode of passing the winter, and the selection of 

 widely separated genera as food. Whether pyrivorella, our new 

 species, will stand, time alone will show, for the present it remains 

 a matter of opinion. That I do not perhaps quite share the con- 

 fidence of my friend in its future must be ascribed to the different 

 standpoints from which we approach the subject. I have examined 

 a score or two of the appendages, and with every desire to prove 

 it distinct from mespilella, but to no purpose. So far as I can see, 

 the appendages are identical in the two insects. 



I may add that among other continental specimens I obtained 

 so-called padella, and a careful examination showed that their append- 

 ages differed in no respect from those of sorhi, which eonfirms the 

 opinion that it is nothing more than that species. 



(To be continued). 



A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIFE-HISTORY OF CATHARLA 

 PYREN/EALIS, Dvv. 



BY T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., V.P.E.S. 



On the top of a hill at AroUa, called I think the Eoussette, where 

 snow lies late, and the surface consists of shingly stones, with moss 

 and lichen, but also with a good many alpine plants, saxifrages, &c., 

 whose low growth confounds them with the moss and lichen, I found 

 the larvae of Catharia pyrencealis, Dup., of various sizes, from the 

 penultimate skin to full grown ; pupae also occurred, and the imago 

 was seen on the wing and captured. The date was Aug. 18th, 1899. 



A full grown larva is about half an inch long, of fairly uniform size from end 

 to end, but the head is a little smaller, and it tapers backwards from the 6th ab- 

 dominal segment, nearly cylindrical, but a little flattened. The colour is dark and 

 smoky but not black, the tubercles are black and shining, I, II and III in the 

 usual positions and of good size, IV is directly below the spiracle and carries two 

 hairs, VI is below this with one hair, on segments 1, 2, 7, 8, are two lower ones, 



G 2 



