170 THE entobiologist's record. 



the back tlius . * • . , and tlie supra- and sub-spiracular (above and be- 

 low the spiracles), are strongly developed, with one or more long hairs 

 on each, and occupying a very considerable portion of the bod}-. As. 

 growth proceeds, and the various skins are cast, the tubercles either 

 become modified into spines as in some of the Nymphnlvlce, or get small 

 by degrees and beautifully less, until they are altogether obsolete as in 

 some of the Satyrklce. Good larv;v in Avhich to observe the gTadual 

 obsolescence in these tubercles are, Evchloe cardamhies and Lasiommata 

 megcera, but almost any Avill do, as it is remarkable how, in the early 

 larval life, there is a tendency to conform to a common structural tyjie, 

 different as the larva? may afterwards become. 



The segmental condition of the head in young larvce of Lasiommata 

 megcera. — The newly-hatched larva of megcera also shows a remarkable 

 development, the last head segment bearing 4 typical trapezoidal 

 tubercles, arranged as a trapezoid, and with the usual hairs. The 

 marks on the other head segments seem to have the same significance, 

 and there can be no doubt that this points to the segments of the head 

 as originally ordinary, tubercle- and hair-bearing segments. In the 

 light of this view, it would )je well to look at (piite newly-hatched 

 larva? of such species as Limenitis sihylla and Vanessa polychloros, where 

 the posterior head segment of the adult larva has flesln^ spikes, probably 

 of the same origin and significance as the spines of tlie thoracic and 

 abdominal seginents. 



Embryo in egg of L. megcera. — It is not always easy to learn what 

 eggs are most iiseful for microscoi:)ic observation, so as to note the 

 development of the embryo. I can recommend Lasiommata megcera as 

 a remarkal)ly good one in this respect. Slenderly and delicately ribbed 

 and reticulated, the shell is so transparent that when I first observed 

 the full}' formed embryo through the shell, the hairs, &c., were so 

 distinct that I considered for a time they were part of the shell, and 

 that the markings on the face of the embryo were also shell markings. 



Improhahlliiy of regvlar hyhernation of Cynthia caidui in Britain. — 

 One other point relative to our spring butterflies has forced itself upon 

 my notice this year, riz., the utter absence of Cynthia cardui, and as for 

 several years I have observed this species, I have come to tlie conclusion 

 that this species very rarely hyl»ernates in Britain. Vanessa nrticce, io, 

 atalanta and ]>oJychJoros are to be seen Gxexj year in greater or less 

 numbers from March till June, atalanta sometimes as late as July, but 

 polychloros is more uncertain than the others, althougli every year 

 present in its Avell-known haunts. As soon as the warm days of spring 

 come, out come these species and Grapta c-albnm. Not so cardui. 

 Cardui scarcely ever appears till May, and then its appearance is most 

 uncertain. In 1892 the species swarmed all over southern England 

 and Ireland. In 1893 the species is as entirely gone up to the 23resent 

 date as Chrysophanus dispar. In the autumn of 1891 not a specimen 

 of cardui Avas to he found, and yet in May, 1892, it swarmed all over 

 the country. This I have observed repeatedly, and I believe cardui 

 does not regularl}' hybernate here any more than does Colias edusa, and 

 further, that the species is as certainly maintained as British by repeated 

 immigration, as is Colias edusa. 



Effect of high spring temperature on the eggs, lame and pupce of 

 hutterfiies. — The effect of the unwonted temj^erature this spring has 

 been irregular in its action on the same species. In those that jiass the 



