21^ tiiE entomologist's kecorL). 



prolegs is occupied on the 2nd abdominal by a whitish spot, those on the 

 3rd, 4th and 5th abdominal by brownish plates, surrounded by a pale 

 yellowish-grey patch. The ventral area between the two pairs of 

 prolegs whitish. 



C'dlinir variatinit. — The colour of the younger larvfe is pretty 

 constant, and varies little. It is of a dull brown hue, with the lateral 

 warts paler brownish, and the pale anterior trapezoidals (?) and four 

 points on the dorsum of the 7th abdominal segment whitish or 

 yellowish. When full-grown, however, there is considerable varia- 

 tion. Then some individuals have a distinctly grey prothorax, whilst 

 the segmental incisions (for a distance extending over the two posterior 

 subsegments of each segment, and forming a row of somewhat quadrate 

 medic-dorsal grey blotches) are similarly coloured. These blotches are 

 darker centrally and in front, and extend over the posterior half of 

 each segment, and are terminated by the two pale anterior trapezoidals 

 on the succeeding segments. In the palest specimens, the 5th abdom- 

 inal and two following segments are almost entirely grey dorsally. 



It is noticeable (under a one-sixth lens) that the pale tubercular 

 spots are composed of a number of whitish warts, but the grey patches 

 on the pale specimens, just described, are really due to the sldn being 

 of a different hue, and not to the presence of pale warts. There can 

 be no doubt, I believe, from my observations of the larvse, and the 

 fact that they are somewhat polyphagous (on trees, at least), that this 

 pale form of variation has been evolved to protect the larva? on trees 

 with pale-coloured twigs sach as birch, the darker ones being better 

 protected on oak. I am under the impression that every brood will 

 give examples of each form — i.e., the dark and pale forms^and that, 

 whilst under one environment, the pale will be better protected, under 

 another environment the darker will be so. At any rate, both forms 

 were produced, with me, from a small brood, the individuals of which 

 were kept under exactly identical conditions. 



Variation in time of feedinn up. — It may be well to remark that, 

 whereas some specimens fed up very rapidly, and had reached 

 maturity by the first week of June, i.e., in about four weeks, others 

 were then not more than an inch long, and arc now (July 1st) not 

 more than half-grown. I do not suppose that these will be full-fed 

 for at least another three weeks yet. 



The NEWLY-nATCHEu LAHVA OF Hadena dissimilis. — To the naked 

 eye the newly-hatched larva of H. (lissiiiiilis appears to be of a dark 

 purplish colour, corresponding almost with the final colour of the egg. 

 This is due, perhaps, to the closeness of the tubercles. It suspends 

 itself by a thread, or lets itself down to the ground, and coils up when 

 disturbed. 



Twenty-four hours after hatching it is about treble its size when 

 hatched, and is now distinctly green in colour, with black warts. The 

 head is pale brown, and bears a number of black tubercular warts, 

 which appear to bear some analogy in position to those on the body 

 segments. Like the latter, each tubercle bears a single black hair. 

 The ocelli are minute, and form a lunule of close black spots, not very 

 different in appearance from the ordinary tubercidated warts, but 

 much more oval and without hairs. The crown of the head is 

 depressed centrally. 



