174 THE ENtOMOLOGIST's RECORD. 



1892 rts to the real manner in whicli the young larvjr clothe them- 

 selves in these two species. I had the pleasure of going more deeply 

 into the matter when investigating the early stages of P. smarcvidaria 

 in 1899-1900, and, as I have before reminded you, of laying the result of 

 my studies before you. I think that I then laid to rest for ever the idea 

 of " stickiness " or " gum," I showed then, I hope conclusively, that 

 the larva of that species is provided, when it comes out of the egg, 

 with special processes, plainly provided for the purpose, to which it 

 attaches the particles, whatever they may be, which constitute its 

 dress. That these particles are not attached haphazard, but are mainly, 

 if not entirely (certainly most firmly), fixed to the special processes, by 

 means of silk threads, so that when the garment is removed, it is found 

 to have been fixed to them alone, and lastly, that the garment of P. 

 xi)iara>ftlaria does, in this country at least, serve a doubly protective 

 purpose, for its habitat l)eing below the level of the highest tides, the 

 larva must be often submerged, and then the garment encloses an 

 ample supply of air for the creature's needs, until its home is dry once 

 more. But 1 confessed that I was met by a difficulty, when I found 

 that that species is, on the Continent of Europe, an inland species, and 

 occurs in localities which can never be submerged, and where, therefore, 

 this kind of protection is never required, unless we can suppose that 

 the dress is meant also to collect water from the rain, in sufficient 

 quantity to enclose the air necessary for the creature's well-being. 



It is exactly this point which meets us when we ask why is the 

 larva of P. jnistiUata so carefully clothed "? Why are the larv.e, which 

 feed many of them high up, and all upon trees, clothed in this complete 

 fashion ? I cannot answer the question, and I doubt if anyone can 

 yet. I have never been able to see why one creature is protected, 

 another not. It seems .scarcely fair. I do not know whether anyone 

 has yet asserted that every creature of every kind is protected. If it 

 be so, it seems rather hard upon the enemy. But, although I cannot 

 say why P. i>iistiilata larva is thus clothed, I am in a position to enlarge 

 upon Mr. Hellins' observation, and tell you more fully how. I have with 

 considerable care and much labour made large scale drawings, which 

 I lay before you to-night, and, presenting the result of my work to you, 

 I beg, especially if you happen to possess that faculty, which I never 

 had, the power of portraying what you see, that you deal gently with 

 my eft'orts. Please remember that I have, by optical methods and 

 helps, done my best, and also that while I have tried to represent what 

 I have seen, I by no means imply that I have seen or represented all that 

 is there. I produce then, a sheet (pi. viii), upon which is shewn the larva 

 of /*. jiio^tidata as it emerges from the egg, fig. ii — and also in its 

 final stage, fig. v, with details of structure, some much enlarged. I 

 also show my older sheet of drawings of the larva of /*. sviarai/claria 

 for comparison," and a third sheet upon which I have drawn my own 

 personal idea of the transverse section of both larvae in the different 

 stages. 



Before proceeding to explain these pictures I must not forget to say 

 a word as to the extreme kindness with which my request for material 

 was met last year. To Mr. L. W. Newman, Mr. Andrews, and Mr. 



* See Eut. Record, vol. xii., pi. vii., July, lyuo. 



