THE GENUS ACRONYCTA AND ITS ALLIES. 227 



between the pro- and mesothorax, immediately behind the 

 antenna case and on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th abdo- 

 minal segments. The spiracle of the ist abdominal segment is 

 covered by the wings, and that of the 8th is seen as an obso- 

 lete mark on the 2nd segment of the terminal piece. 



The anal extremity (Plate II., fig. 4c) is conical, but broader 

 at the tip, and is slightly hollowed in front, like a very broad 

 stubby pen. The armature consists at first sight of a dense 

 brush of fine brown bristles, but this is often sufficiently rubbed 

 off to show that the pupa itself has certain points or processes. 

 The end resembling the stubby pen is a rectangular surface, not 

 directly terminal, but facingsomewhat dorsallyand armed at each 

 corner with a blunt point, not sufficiently developed to be called 

 a hook, but suggests that it is a rudimentary one. In some 

 specimens, there is an indication of another pair placed be- 

 tween the two ventral ones, but additional dorsal ones are 'not 

 sufficiently pronounced to be quite sure of. There are the 

 usual pairs of minute bristles at the bases of the antennae, on 

 the outer side of the frontal tubercles, one on each side of the 

 clypeus (?), a small group on each side of the back of the 

 mesothorax, and some on each side of the back of the 12th 

 and 13th segments, all these are barely more than microscopic. 



I have already said, that the other Viniinia pupae differ 

 from that of runiicis, only in the degree in which these several 

 features are more or less pronounced. I find it convenient to 

 describe the 5th and 6th abdominal segments as the "free 

 segments," the rest being fixed or fused together in the thoracic 

 and anal masses. I believe the Macros have, as a rule, only 

 these two segments free in the pupal state. It is indeed only 

 broken by a few genera such as Trocliiluini, Hepialus, Zeuzera, 

 and Cossus, which, in several other respects (except size), have 

 much affinity with the Micros. 



As to its distribution, Stainton's classical expression in the 

 Manual, of " Common everywhere," would still be applicable 

 to riunicis, were it not that ruinicis, like other species, is 

 disappearing, or at least becoming very rare in the densely 

 populated districts. 



{To be continued.) 



An excursus of Plate V. will be published next month. 



Errata — P. igg, line 17, for "opening" read "spinning; " 

 p. 194, line 13, for "mammellae" read "mammillae;" p. 194, 

 line 5 from bottom, for " 6th " read " ist." 



