68 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S KECOKD. 



Perhaps a reference to the helplessness of our own young is hardly 

 admissible. Certainly development in two opposite directions at the 

 same time, one taken by tlie larva, the other by the pupa and imago, 

 greatly enhances the difference between the larval form on the one hand, 

 and the pupal and imaginal forms on the other. This idea is borne out 

 by Mr. Jackson, Avho states that the genital ducts of lepidoptera pass 

 through an Ephemerid stage and an Orthopteran stage before reaching 

 that point characteristic of the Lepidoptera. The former (Ephemerid) 

 stage, he states, ends at about the close of the larval life, i.e. (I presume) 

 the genital organs of Lepidoptera are as highly developed (although 

 not functionally active) at this stage, as are those of the Ephemerid 

 adult ; this fact does not, therefore, particularly suggest that such 

 larvae represent a more ancestral type than the Ephemerid larva, as 

 may be assumed from Mr. Poulton's remarks, since the Lepidopterous 

 larva has apparently at this early stage of development reached a 

 point which characterises the Ei^hemerid imago. The Orthopteran 

 stage, Mr. Jackson tells us, is reached in the quiescent larval stage 

 immediately preceding pupation, which suggests that in this structural 

 feature at least, the Lepidopterous larva is as highly developed as tlie 

 Orthopteran imago. I see clearly, of course, the great gap which exists 

 between the larva and pupa of Lepidoptera, but I think it is brought 

 about, not so much by the reversion of the larva to a more ancestral 

 type than that exhibited by the larvas of most other Orders of insects, 

 as by the special development of the larva in a direction opposite to 

 that afterwards assumed by the imago. 



(To he continued.) 



i^Ei'i^o^PEei'io]^^ Aj^D poi^E-eyi^'i'^, 



By A. J. HODGES. 



(Continued from p. 44.) 



We must break up our evening gatherings and get to work ; 

 one month is gone, and the little we have done Avith the " winter " 

 moths can hardly be called a start ; as we go home, cast a glance at the 

 out-lying gas-lamps ; a few Geometers will visit them on suitably warm 

 dark evenings. It will require a very propitious night to attract the 

 hybernating Noctu.i; to "sugar;" but for females, to obtain ova for 

 breeding, it is worth trying. Kecollect Cerastis erythrocephala and 

 Daaycampa ruhiijinea are among the h3d3ernators, also all the Xylinidae ; 

 we will not waste much treacle over this "off-chance," but will pay 

 more attention to the " sallows " when the catkins are more generally 

 in bloom. 



A fortnight later, and a day's tri}) to that good old locality, Epping 

 Forest, draws us from our winter shell in earnest. A lovely morning, 

 all nature rejoicing in its awakening from its winter sleep, and the 

 earliest wind-tiowers (Anemone nemorosa) are peeping shyly up among 

 last year's dead leaves. The flocks of hungry blue-tits (Parus caerulevs) 

 have found out the favourite corner near Theydon Bois, where we take 

 long series of Brephos parthenias, and vie in quickness with the most 

 skilful wielder of the long-handled nets, in the avidity with which they 

 seize the wildly-flying moths. An early sun and Ave get our series fly- 

 ing lower, and can afford to pity the exertions of the later comers, and 



