222 THE entomologist's record. 



metra papilionaria by 5 pages, 8 genera, and 52 species in Staudinger's 

 Catalofi, shows a form in some points almost identical with the 

 exception of size,'' and it is further remarkable, that, in the drawers 

 of the general collection at South Kensington, there is an insect placed 

 next to (t. papilionaria, the prasina of Butler, which presents the 

 angulated wings, and more or less the general appearance of a gigantic 

 H. strii/ata. At the same time, one recalls that Stainton, following 

 Guenee, places (J. papilionaria with P. smaragdaria and H. strir^ata 

 at the very end of the family. Meyrick limits the genus Geowetra 

 to papilionaria, groups together pitsttdata, sniarat/daria, vernaria and 

 lactearia, and places Nemoria riridata with Hemithea strif/ata, at the 

 head of the family ; a reversal of arrangement, to which we are slowly, 

 and sometimes very unwillingly, becoming accustomed. 



Mr. South, in the " Entomologist List," following Lederer, places 

 together siuaraudaria and puMiilata in his genus Pliorodeama, quite 

 correctly from all points of view ; and vernaria with jiapilionaria in 

 the genus Geometra, while H. .stri</ata is again sent down to the very 

 end of the family. This only shows how Doctors differ, and I shall 

 be content if my researches provide something definite to work upon 

 besides the mere dead dry bodies of ancient specimens. 



You will, I fear, begin to think that I am again digressing. I 

 am ! The fact is that Mr. Bacot has quite taken the wind out of my 

 sails, in his report upon the early stages of G. papilionaria, and after 

 reading his notes over, I find that there is really very little left for me to 

 say on the subject before us. I have to thank Messrs. Edelsten, Shaw, 

 Newman and Christy, for their kindness in responding to my request 

 for eggs of the insect for the present investigation. I was not myself 

 very successful in rearing the larvse, as I have been bereft of birch, 

 and had to feed the larvae on hazel instead. Moreover, Avishing to 

 observe them closely, I kept them in a bell-jar in my warm study, 

 where they nearly boiled, and needless to say, did not thrive. Had 

 I not sent some out to nurse, I should have failed altogether in rearing 

 any beyond the second skin. 



I will now proceed to read Mr. Bacot's report upon the early 

 stages : — 



Ovum (Plate viii., fig. la). — Length just over 1-lmm., width between 

 •7mm. and -Smm., thickness slightly over -Smm. The outline viewed 

 from above, is a round-ended oval, slightly flattened at one, the broader, 

 end. If viewed edgeways it is a narrow flat-sided ovoid, slightly 

 flattened at the broader (micropylar ?) end. There is a depression on 

 either side. The egg is strong and heavy-looking, its appearance 

 suggesting that the walls are thick. The surface is sculptured with 

 strongly marked cells, the dividing walls of which are both high and 

 thick, adding considerably to the appearance of strength (Plate viii., 

 fig. lb). At the blunter end, there is a snail shallow circular pit, with 

 straight rays or ribs, radiating from its centre (this I take to be the 

 micropyle), best seen in ova which have turned to the livid hue preceding 

 emergence. The ova forwarded to me by Mr. Burrows, are laid singly 

 or, in one or two instances, two eggs are laid close together on leno. Their 



* Since reading this paper, I have made a more careful examination of this 

 larva, and find that I must modify this opinion somewhat. The resemblance is 

 almost as close to C. pustulata as to G. papilionaria. 



