THE GENUS ACRONYCTA AND ITS ALLIES. 147 



In the 2nd skin, the larva is again at first quite black from 

 the tubercles being set close together. As it grows, the por- 

 celain whiteness around the posterior trapezoidals appears 

 on 3.4, 6.7, 10.11 segments ; on 3 and 4 there is also a 

 white dorsal band, which indeed may be traced on the other 

 pale segments, more in some specimens than others. The 5th 

 segment is remarkable for the height on which the anterior 

 trapezoidals are placed, the tubercles themselves being no 

 larger than their neighbours : the tubercles of 11 are still dis- 

 tinctly smaller; the skin is smoky-brown (where not pale), the 

 tubercles black, the anterior trapezoidals very large with 6-8 

 long black hairs, the others are also large with 2-4 hairs, except 

 the post-spiracular, which dwindles, and has only i hair ; the 

 hairs are in length about half the diameter of the larva, the 

 marginal tubercles have several paler hairs, the under surface 

 tends to olive or greenish — no trace of lateral line so far. Some 

 of the larvae are brownish and white, others black and white, 

 looking as if in mourning, and reminding one of Melanippe 

 hastata. 



In the 3rd skin, they are again at first very black, when full- 

 grown are 9 mm. in length, colour olive-brown ; there are some 

 paler hairs on the posterior trapezoidal tubercles ; the hairs 

 are two-thirds the diameter of the larva in length, and have a 

 stellate effect from the manner in which they are studded over 

 the tubercles ; this effect is characteristic of vienyatitJiidis as 

 compared with the other Viminia larvae, and gives it a more 

 Arctioid appearance than any other species has. The pale 

 margin round the tubercles (seen at some stage in all the 

 Viviinia larvae) now affects the outer margin of the anterior 

 trapezoidals, the posterior trapezoidals and the sub-spiracular 

 The supra-spiracular are without it. It is most pronounced on 

 the pale segments (3.4, 6.7, 10. 11), and on these forms a 

 pale whitish or yellowish sub-dorsal band. The sub-spiracular 

 marks form a nearly continuous lateral line, most marked on 

 the pale segments, broadest and plainest behind the tubercles, 

 and dwindling on the anterior segments. The post-spiracular 

 tubercle is still visible. 



In the 4th skin, the riiniicis form is very marked, perhaps 

 more so than in adult rumicis ; the 5th segment being very 

 large, and of a deeper black than the rest of the larva, which 

 tapers thence to the head ; the 12th segment is also large. As 

 the larva gets full grown (in 4th skin), it becomes paler, and 

 this form is less pronounced. All have now the red lateral line, 



