92 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



termination. These got less important in scale and brightness as they 

 approached the anal segment. Along each side, containing the 

 spiracles, was a broad and fleshy line of the same light yellow-white 

 tint as the markings on the dorsal area. Many small dark tubercles, 

 which the creature's activity would not permit of being counted or 

 located, were shown on this line — perhaps four or five on each side of 

 eA'ery segment, each emitting a light bristle. There was a strong 

 light bristle on each side of the bead, pointmg downwards. The legs, 

 claspers, and ventral surface were of the colour of the body, only a 

 shade lighter in tint. On May 9th the larva? assumed a somewhat 

 different appearance and were double the length that they were on 

 their first appearance. May I be permitted here to advance a theory 

 in connection with the change of appearance in larva:* at certain times, 

 especially in the early stages of existence ? There were nine emergences 

 from the ova (all that were spared by the postal delivery) on ^lay 3rd, 

 and the yoimg larva? were under my daily examination with the 

 microscope. Beyond developing in size no change whatever appeared 

 until the 9th of the month, when there was a distinct alteration. What 

 was my surprise on the 11th, tAvo days later, to find a radical change 

 in this aspect from what it had been on the 9th day of the month. 

 Not one had died, and the larvte all exhibited, at the dates named, the 

 changes alluded to. Now it is hardly likely that such young larvc? 

 would cast their skins within two days from a previous change. Is 

 it not possible that change of coloration, and change of markings, 

 may take place without the casting of the skin being necessary? It is, 

 of course, very difiicult to be exact about this, as, unless young larvae 

 are under constant examination, almost hourly, it is not possible to 

 say to what a variation in appearance may be attributed. In this 

 instance the variation as seen by the microscope was so continuous as 

 to suggest that the development of form and colour was never at rest, 

 and it was not possible to discover what part of it was due to change 

 of skin or other agency. I give accounts of the appearance of the 

 larvae on certain dates, and must leave the method of attainment to 

 more experienced opinion than mine. At all events, these young A. 

 strataria, from possessing the appearance first described on May 8rd, 

 had, on May 9th, a head of a darker brown, and had lost the bristle on 

 each side of it. The body was now greenish-grey in colour, and shiny. 

 A double dorsal line, of a bright yellowish-white extended along the 

 back, accentuated in expression at every segment. This line was 

 broader near the head and its two component parts fused into one, 

 where it joined a collar of the same tint round the neck on the pro- 

 thoracic segment. There was a broad spiiacular line of this whitish- 

 yellow colour, on which were the black spiracles. On the prothoracic 

 segment, on each side, was a large brown blotch, and brown blotches 

 on the anal flap and the back face of each of the anal claspers. The 

 ventral surface and claspers were of the colour of the body, the legs 

 black. The ]ar%a was heavily marked with fleshy transverse wrinkles, 

 and had black warts from two to four in number on each side of every 

 segment ; these warts were all furnished with short black setie, and the 

 larvajwere noAviinch long. From this condition on May 9th I found, 

 two days later, on j\lay 11th, the following distinct alterations. The 

 bead sienna-coloured, large in size, :ixl squarish in shape, Avith a 

 deeply marked division on the crown. Body dark umber inclined to 



