278 THE entomologist's record. 



using any of the excavated chips. It no doubt thus secures a 

 less conspicuous result. 



This year for the first time four specimens of alni emerged 

 the same year as autumnal specimens, or efforts towards a 

 second brood, they were four amongst the earliest larvae to 

 pupate. 



Cuspidia leporina. — Various correspondents have kindly given 

 me their observations on the two forms of this larva, which 

 go to show that both forms are found in all parts of Great 

 Britain, and that their connection with birch and alder and 

 with a northern and southern habitat is only true in a general 

 sense, and has everywhere many exceptions. I secured a 

 brood of Lancashire and presumably yellow parentage this year, 

 and fed some on birch and some on alder. Unfortunately I did 

 not treat them as well as I ought to have done and the numbers 

 dwindled, but the result points strongly to the conclusion that 

 these forms are hereditary and are not directly affected by the 

 actual foodplant. Out of eight fed on birch one was white, 

 and seven yellow ; of ten fed on alder one was white, and nine 

 yellow. Mr. Poulton called my attention to an observation 

 that young larvae of leporina possessed clubbed hairs like those 

 of alni. I therefore paid special attention to this point, and 

 find that, strictly speaking, this is not the case. Each tubercle 

 preserves throughout the larval existence one simple hair ; in 

 the posterior trapezoidals this hair remains evident enough 

 when looked for, and unaccompanied by any others ; this is 

 the one that becomes clubbed in alni. On the anterior 

 trapezoidals this primary hair or bristle also persists in a 

 simple form, but is accompanied by the tufts of black hair 

 often persisting in the last skin, but usually most abundant in 

 the penultimate one. Each hair of these black tufts is expanded 

 and spathulate just like the characteristic hairs of alni. They 

 are, however, quite a different set of hairs. The anterior 

 trapezoidals of alni have no secondary hairs, and the primary 

 ones (in last skin) are nearly obsolete. 



{To he concluded.) 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE IV. 



Fig. la. — Pupa of Acroiycta {Cuspidia) leporina, nat. size. 



Fig. lb. ,, ,, ,, ,, lateral view of anal armature, X 9 dm. 



Fig- ic. ,, ,, ,, „ end „ „ „ 



Fig. Id. ,, ,, ,, ,, dorsal „ „ „ 



Fig. 2a. — Pupa ol Acronycta {Ctispidia) aceris, nat. size. 



Fig. 2b. ,, ,, ,, ,, dorsal view of anal armature, X 8 dm. 



Fig. 2c. ,, ,, ,, ,, ventral „ „ „ 



