226 THE entomologist's record. 



Although the four-moult form has no relation to an attempt 

 to reach the imago state more rapidly and to become double- 

 brooded, nevertheless rnviicis presents it more frequently than 

 the other species and is also the one (after aiiricomd) that most 

 frequently is double-brooded. In the south, there are always 

 autumnal specimens, usually I think a second brood. In the 

 north, there is no second brood and rarely if ever an autumnal 

 specimen. 



The pupa (Plate I., fig. i.) is black (length 17 mm., width 

 52^mm,), the general outline is cylindrical, not only from the front 

 to the end of the wing cases, but to the end of the next two 

 (free) abdominal segments, the remaining (fused) segments 

 taper rapidly, and except in plump pupas, irresistibly suggest 

 that they are a portion of a smaller pupa attached in place of 

 the proper segments. 



Ventrally, the coverings of the proboscis, first and second 

 pairs of legs, antennas and wings are more marked off from each 

 other and distinct, than is usual in Noctua pupae, and their sur- 

 face, though, broadly speaking, smooth, is marked by numerous 

 close transverse wrinkles, the tips of the third pair of legs also 

 appear. Dorsall}', the posterior edge of the mesothorax is very 

 marked as if it were overhanging the next segment, the meta- 

 thorax is not very distinctly separated from the ist abdominal 

 segment. The four abdominal segments, forming part of the 

 solid portion of the pupa, and the two free ones (5 and 6) have 

 a similar sculpturing, though less boldly on the first three than 

 the others. The hind margin of each segment (Plate II., 

 fig. 4b) is raised in smoothly rounded projecting ribs {vi?nen), 

 whilst the rest of the segment, at least dorsally, is rough with 

 very numerous raised and pointed dots and warts, most pro- 

 nounced close up to the vimen and dorsally. The flexible mem- 

 brane uniting the free segments is usually lighter than the rest 

 of the pupa, dark or even pale brown, and is covered with very 

 minute dots closely set in regular rows. The dorsal aspect of 

 the 7th abdominal segment, the first of the solid terminal por- 

 tion, has the warts of the preceding ones, but not the marginal 

 rib — the remaining segments are nearly smooth. In the finest 

 pupae, the boldness of the " hoops " on 4th, 5th, and 6th abdo- 

 minal segments gives an appearance of greater thickness here 

 (an approach to venosd). 



The anterior extremity of the pupa (Plate II., fig. 4a) is 

 marked by two raised rough knobs, situated between the bases 

 of the antennae. The spiracles are in the usual position, viz., 



