1805.J 67 



again some time in March, fi-om that time showing a decided preference for Poly- 

 gonum amculare ; they changed skin for the last time about the end of April, and 

 spun up during the latter part of May and beginning of June. On 29th June, a 

 very perfect specimen emerged of the " bright purple " variety of the moth, puz- 

 zling me until I learned that the " dull brownish-red " of the Manual is not the 

 constant unifonn of ruhricata ; I can compare the colour of this specimen to nothing 

 so well as to the beautiful tint on the hind-margin of the fore-wings of Chcerocampa, 

 EVpenor, only it is brighter. 



The larva when full fed is not quite an inch in length ; in shape rather slender, 

 tapering towards the head ; the head itself is notched, having the lobes rounded 

 and swelling out wider than the second segment ; the whole body is ribbed with 

 transverse rings. The ground colour is grey or ochreous on the back — paler on the 

 belly. The dorsal line is composed of two veiy fine dusky threads ; there is a 

 thicker and darker sub-dorsal line, commencing on each lobe of the head, and 

 vanishing again after the fourth segment, and as far as this extends there is between 

 it and the dorsal line a pale grey stripe ; on the next five segments both these sub- 

 dorsal lines re-appear only as light or black spots at the segmental divisions, while 

 on the back of the same segments there are five elongated dusky lozenges faintly 

 edged with black ; the remaining segments are paler both in ground colour and in 

 distinctness of lines. The spiracles are black, placed in a drab longitudinal ridge, 

 which is bordered above by a fine black line, and below by a wider one. 



All the dark lines and marks become much fainter as the larva approaches its 

 final change. 



The pupa is apparently placed in a slight cocoon under moss ; but, as I am 

 hoping to get out another moth, I have not disturbed the cage to describe it. 



This larva is very similar in figure, tints, and habits to many others of the same 

 genus (twisting itself when disturbed into almost a double coil) ; but the eye at 

 once catches, as the chief point of distinction, the shape and colour of the head. 



Through the kindness of friends, Mr. Buckler has now been able to figm-e the 

 larvae of thirteen species of AcidaUa, and some other species are now feeding, 

 more also being promised ; but at present we see no chance of ocJi/rata, trigend- 

 nata, rusiicata, straminata, strigilata, emutaria, or degeneraria, and should feel 

 very much indebted to any one who could spare eggs or larvae of either of them. — 

 Rev. John Hellins, July IZth, 1865. 



Description of the larva of Toxocampa craccce. — Larva (when full-grown) li 

 to li inch in length. When viewed from above, it tapers towards the head, and 

 gtill more towards the posterior end ; but when seen sideways, appears almost 

 uniformly long and slender. 



Its manner of walking is a partial looping of the first six segments : tho first 

 two ventral prologs are very slightly shorter than the others, but to such an extent 

 as to be scarcely noticeable, and it generally assumes an undulating posture in 

 repose along the stem of its food-plant. 



Along tho back, commencing on the head, is a dark brown, very finely mottled, 

 broad stripe, widest along the middle segment ; and with an additional widening on 

 the eleventh segment ; in the centre of this is a thin, rather paler stripe, enclosing 



