176 TME KNTOMOLOtUSl's KECOKb. 



organs are, you will observe, in the same positions, and on the same 

 segments, as were the hooks in the young larva. 



I have been unable to make out the details of these. It appears to 

 me that, in the specimens before me, they are of ivory whiteness, or else 

 as clear glass, and no method of lighting at my disposal throws them into 

 sufhcient relief for proper examination. The details appear, however, 

 to be multitudes of rather short, stout hooks, or points, often lying 

 parallel to the surface of the organ, and pointing in every direction, 

 just the very things, indeed, that one would design to entangle a 

 number of fine silken filaments. The special organ figured (fig, vii) 

 is enormous in proportion, being almost half as long as the width of 

 the segment to which it belongs. 



I do not know whether the extreme development of these organs 

 is consequent upon the age of the larva, but am inclined to think, it is 

 not, as Mr. Hellins observed, that, Avhen full-grown, the larva, if 

 stripped, did not trouble to dress itself again. Knowing the purpose 

 of the organ one would be inclined to think that its enlargement 

 signified greater need of use. Of course you will make all allowance 

 for the fact that my model is turned over a little on its back, and this 

 position throws the special organs higher up than they would naturally 

 be, while it shows too much of the undersurface of the larva. 



Where now are my "battledores"? I have searched for them 

 most carefully, but in vain. Nor have I been able to discover in the 

 mature specnnens anything to represent them. Evidently they are no 

 longer required and are, therefore, discarded as useless. I imagine, 

 but perhaps it is a great mistake of mine, that had my specimen been 

 younger, at least some traces would be evident. And now some of the 

 hairs present a strange appearance of having become flattened, 

 broadened, and even distorted. This I do ascribe to age, and to the 

 need for them having passed. I have tried also to represent (fig. \b) the 

 large discs and hairs, as I did so in picturing larv.e of /'. siiunaiidaria. 

 But I do not think they are very striking nor likely to be of much use 

 except to keep the silk clothes-lines from slipping. In undressing the 

 larva, one finds that the greatest difficulty lies in freeing the lines from 

 the special organs. There all the lines are made fast. Numerous lines 

 appear to encircle the body in every direction, but it is quite evident 

 that the security of the work lies in attachment to the special organs. 

 I have made no attempt, you will remark, to draw^ the larva of P. 

 ))mtidata clothed. I had no specimen in proper condition, the half- 

 pupated ones were much contracted, and the garments quite concealed 

 the body, and after all, when one comes to think of it, no specimen 

 but one sparsely clothed would have the slightest interest to any 

 intelligent entomologist, or show in any way anything worth noticing. 

 I do not aspire to depicting scraps of oak-buds, any more than faded 

 tufts of Arteiiiifn'a, which proved so unsatisfactory in my former draw- 

 ing, though that told the tale it was meant to tell. 



Exi'LAXATION OF PlATE VIII. 



Figure I. — The egg (hatched) and portion enlarged. 



Figure II. —The larva on emerging from the egg, unclothed — («) hooks:, 



{h) battledores. 

 Figure III. — The tiist abdominal segment, with special organs — (a) hook, 



{!>) battledore, (r) hairs from dorsal area. 

 Figure IN . —The fourth abdomiaul segment— («) hook, (//| battlcdorcb. 



