106 THE entomologist's RECOUt). 



who deceive themselves and others (and at the same time amuse a 

 small section of entomologists), have been the only link between me 

 and what some entomologists call Science. Fancy a course of 

 Chapman, Eaton, Verrall, Sharp, Prout, etc., without the rubbish of 

 A — •, B — , D — , F — , etc., to help digest it. It's really too awful, or 

 at least our Editors think so. 



Description of Lepidopterous Larvae. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



Many years ago (KiUoiindiii/ists' Wccldij InteUiijencer, vol. viii., p. 

 81), Stainton complained of the hap-hazard and unsystematic way in 

 which descriptions of larviB Avere drawn up, and he laid down, what 

 have subsequently proved very unsatisfactory, rules as to how they might 

 be made more systematic. Among other things he suggested that 

 the head should be called " the 1st segment," the 1st thoracic 

 segment, "the 2nd segment," and so on, until the anal segment of 

 the caterpillar was reached. 



It is well known that the head is not one segment, but a segregation 

 of segments forming a complex organ. Whether it is composed of 

 four or more segments is doubtful. As a separate organ it should be 

 described as such, and not as the 1st segment. 



The three segments following the head constitute the thorax, and 

 are known as: — (1) The pro-thorax. (2) The meso-thorax. (3) The 

 meta-thorax or post-thorax. The structure and armature of these are 

 generally very different from those of the following segments. 



The ten posterior segments are known as the 1st, 2nd, 8rd 



9th abdominal, the latter being usually termed the anal segment. 



It is almost impossible to unravel what some describers of larviD 

 wish to convey to their readers. They describe the larva as if it were 

 a piece of wall-paper, up one side and down the other, till they have 

 got to the end of it. They write pages about dorsal, subdorsal, lateral 

 lines, and are very choice in their selection of colour tints, but of the 

 structural peculiarities we learn nothing. How many subsegments 

 there are in the pro-thorax, meso-thorax and meta-thorax ; the exact 

 position of the pro-thoracic spiracle ; the relation of the tubercles, 

 hairs and spines to the subsegments, are altogether wanting ; whilst 

 the differences in structure between the thoracic and abdominal 

 segments are rarely hinted at. We wonder whether there is an atom 

 of scientific value in the descriptions penned by Newman. We can only 

 think of one, that is, to enable the collector to name the larva; 

 (with doubt). Of course, we understand that only general descriptions 

 can be given in elementary books for youngsters, but in those that 

 aim higher something more is needed. 



The larva3 of all our British Pamphilids have white scaly 

 excrescences, which gradually develop under the epidermis during the 

 growth in the last larval skin, and are mature, so to speak, when the 

 larva is quite ready for pupation. These are situated under the sixth 

 and seventh abdominal segments. Zeller describes these as being 

 " on the tenth and eleventh segments," in T/n/iiiiiiriis cutafon, T. Uncola, 

 Pamphila si/lnaius and P. rniiniM. This is quoted by Stainton and 

 Barrett. Duponchel says that, in the larva of P. cuiniiut, they are 



