32 THE entomologist's record. 



that lie finds tlicm " mostl}^ on beech, but some on birch and oak." He 

 also records that some larvfe he was keeping fed up well, sleeved on apple. 

 Godart {Histotrc Naturelle des Lcpidopteres) suggests that it may feed 

 on elm, as he had twice found the larva at the foot of that tree. We 

 have beaten them from beech, oak and sallow, and fed up our larvae on 

 beech, which keeps very well if the branches are jjut in bottles of 

 water. Habits of Larva : — With regard to the habits of the larva, I 

 am sorry to say that its most noticeable habit in captivity seems to be 

 pugnacity. Both the Rev. Bernard Smith and Mr. Holland note this 

 trait in its character. Tlie former, too, says that instances have occurred 

 of cannibalism, but modifies the accusation by saying that this does not 

 often happen. Our own larvee behaved very much in the manner 

 recorded by Mr. Holland (Entom. Record, ii., 227) of those he kept. 

 They fought whenever they met, and numerous cripj^les Avere the result. 

 Instances too occurred in which a larva lost a tail or a portion of a tail. 

 They stnick at one another quite savagely, swinging their bodies round 

 with considerable force. Some few cripples pupated, as did some of 

 Mr. Holland's. One poor fellow lost both his long legs on one side, 

 and could not keep on the food ; he died after crawling or wriggling 

 pitifully about the bottom of the cage for some time. I am afraid the 

 only really efficacious remedy for these bad habits is to keep each larva 

 separately. The larvae on a beech tree in a state of nature certainly 

 need not annoy each other for Avant of space, especially as the ova seem 

 to be laid in a scattered manner. Both the Eev. Bernard Smith and Mr. 

 Holland concur in recommending searching for the larva in preference 

 to beating. The larva, I belicA^e, sticks very firmly to the small 

 branches. My brother, who saw several beaten in the Ncav Forest last 

 year, tells me that a good proportion of these Avere either in the act of, 

 or had just completed, a change of skin. Mr. Holland calls attention 

 (Enf. liecord, ii., 227) to the long period over Avhich the larvas may be 

 found. In 1891, he took them full groAvn at the beginning of August, 

 and yet found young ones in September. The laxA-a takes about tAvo 

 months to feed ujj (Mr. H.) Mr. Holland also sends me most interesting 

 notes on several other characteristics of the caterpillar. He tells me 

 that the larA-a when disturbed ejects an acid like Ccrnra v inula does, 

 and his friend, Mr. Hamm, Avas once made painfully aAvare of this fact 

 by haA'ing the acid spurted into his eye. He also refers to the 

 " trembling quivering attitude " Avhieh they take up Avhen disturbed, 

 and adds that " any one Avho beats out a larA-a for the first time Avill be 

 sure to think he has crippled it Avith the beating stick, as it ahvays 

 appears about to expire in a fit of palsy." I belieA'e the larva of 

 Notodonia tnpida behaA'es in the same curious manner. Most of my 

 hearers Avill no doubt haA-e seen the note in the last number of the 

 Eecord, by Mr. NeAvnham, calling attention to the habit this larva has 

 of drinking. Mr. Holland says that it likes to drink drops of Avater off 

 its food, and that Mr. Hamm has repeatedly seen them doing this in 

 the breeding cage. Mr. Holland thinks that " most likely they are in 

 the habit of sucking up drops of dcAv on the leaA'es," and suggests that 

 sprinkling the food in the breeding cage occasionally might be beneficial. 

 Frotedive reseinhlances : — With reference to the protecti\'e resemblances 

 of the larA'a, Mr. Holland has called my attention to their likeness 

 "when at rest, to the broAA'n scales on the beech tAvigs, and Avhen 

 moA-ing, to the large Avood ants, and, later on, to a dry curled-up leaf," 



