300 THK kntomologist's record. 



I merely call attention to it as an important point that I had not 

 previously noted.) Seven oblique stripes are present, the seventh 

 being rather stronger than the rest ; the sub-dorsal lines distinct. All 

 the stripes are more conspicuous after the larva has been feeding for a 

 few days. Caudal horn : long, pale pink ; some of the larvae have 

 only short horns, which appear withered (in one instance almost to the 

 stump), in another it is almost entirely absent, while a third has the 

 horn constricted just above the base, as though a piece of thread had 

 been tied round it. I have noticed a similar deformity to this last 

 in a larva of S. tiliae. 



Unfortunately, I had no larvae of either S. ocellatm or .S'. pojmli in 

 the first stage with which to compare, but, judging from memory 

 and written descriptions, I noted as follows. The larva closely 

 resembles that of S. oceUatiis in shape and attitude, as well as in 

 markings. 



July 8rd. Most of the larvae are now in 2nd skin, and are grow- 

 ing rapidly. July 4th. By this time I had larva? of both S. ocellatus 

 and S. pojiidi in the same stage as the hybrid larvte, so that the compari- 

 sons in this and subsequent stages are more exact. 2nd skin : length 

 three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch. Head : triangular, broader, 

 less tall and pointed than in larva of S. mrUatn.s, but not so bulged 

 at cheeks nor squat as in that of S. populi : yellow tubercles at apex 

 of head taller than in the latter species. Bodi/ : scutellum indistinct ; 

 the sub-dorsal stripes are continued faintly across the oblique lines to 

 the 5th (in one larva to the 7th) ; the medio-dorsal line is produced by 

 the absence of shagreen tubercles ; dark borders to oblique lines are 

 present. The stripes are stronger than in S. popnli, but not so marked 

 as in S. ocellatus. In addition to the other stripes there is a faint 

 lateral line below the sub-dorsal, on the thoracic segments. Caudal 

 horn : the base is pink for about one-third its height ; shorter and 

 lighter in colour than that of S. ocellatus, though more marked in both 

 respects than in larva of S. popxdi. Habits : The larva retracts the first 

 two pairs of fore-legs (in one larva the third pai^- also) ; I did not note 

 any marked preference for either the upright or hanging position in this 

 stage ; but one larva assumed a rather marked " sphinx " posture, 

 very like that of SpJiinx lit/ustri. 



A careful examination of the larva proves it to be curiously mid- 

 way between the parent species as regards most of the important 

 dift'erentiating characters. In shape and coloration it is neither so 

 white a green nor graceful in form as the larva of »S'. ocellatm, nor is 

 it so yellow-green and heavy-looking as the larva of S. populi. Looked 

 at in a less critical manner, and without the aid of a glass, it reminds 

 one most of the yellow form of N. ocellatus. Its habits and position, 

 also, show rather more trace of the c? than $ parent. The fact of the 

 1st pair of oblique stripes being no stronger than the 2nd to 6th pairs, 

 and weaker than the 7th, still further adds to its resemblance to S. 

 ocellatus. 



'dnl skin : July 8th. Head : As before, nearly midway between 

 the parent forms in shape, etc., but it now resembles S. populi more 

 nearly than N. ocellatus in size, colour and roughness, being covered 

 with yellowish tubercles, which are only very small in the larva of N. 

 ocellatus ; the large tubercles at apex are only slightly larger than in 

 the larva of S, populi, with which they agree as regards colour 



