234 [November, 



Sterrha sacraria near Ryde. — A beautiful speoimon of this insect was beaten 

 out of brambles upon St. Helen's Dover, Isle of Wight, on the 9th of September ; 

 but as it differs somewhat from any description T have seen, I send you the following 

 account. 



Front wings light straw colour, with a bright pink oblique stripe from the 

 costal to the inner margin, and also a pinh stripe along the costal ma/i'gin from the 

 base more than half way along. The under-side of the front wings are tipped with 

 pink, and the oblique stripe shows through of a purple colour. A second specimen 

 has since been seen, but not captured. — Jas. Ingram, St. Helen's Schools, Nettle- 

 stone, Ryde, Tsle of Wight, Septemher, 1865. 



[We have seen this beautiful example ; the pink costal stripe is not unusual 

 in continental specimens. — Eds.] 



Description of the la/rva of Sterrha sacraria. — In the September No. of this 

 Magazine, p. 92, Mr. McLachlan records the capture of a female of this species near 

 Worthing on the afternoon of August 19th. That same day she laid seven eggs, 

 which were forthwith entrusted to me, and I am happy to say I can now give a 

 good account of six of them, one unfortunately having been crushed in the quill 

 during its journey. 



The larvEe were hatched August 29th, reached full growth and spun up between 

 September 20th and 30th, and the six pupae at the present date look hvely 

 and well. 



The shape of the egg is singular — a very long narrow oval, with the under-side 

 flattened, and when seen under an inch lens, it appears to be finely dotted all over, 

 as well as ornamented with rows of hexagonal network ; its colour when first laid 

 is a pale greenish-yellow, changing in a day or two to a bright coral-red, and from 

 that to a smoky-grey a few hours before the escape of the larva. 



The larva on its first appearance is translucent and whitish, with a broad (that 

 is broad in comparison to the bulk of the tiny creature) purpUsh-red lateral stripe, 

 as pretty a youngling as I ever made the acquaintance of in my experience of 

 Lepidopterous larvae. At the end of a week the length was about * -inch j the white 

 colour changed to a soft grey, the lateral stripe brownish-red, and comparatively 

 narrower than at first. After another week the length was about j^-inch, the lateral 

 stripe gone, and the colour either a pale green or greenish-brown on the back, with 

 the belly grey. 



About the middle of the third week the last change of skin took place, and the 

 larva began to put on its mature appearance. 



When full grown, the length is a full inch. The shape slender, cylindrical, 

 tapering very gradually towards the head ; the skin smooth, with a few bristles, 

 chiefly on the anterior and posterior segments : the head rather flat, and widish. 

 When at rest the larva is not quite straight, the back being slightly raised ; when 

 disturbed it curls up spirally (Hke an Acidalia), forming about a coil and a half. 



The colour on the back is either a full green or a blue-green — velvety, with the 

 posterior segments more yellowish-green, the belly a delicate whitish-green, and 

 the segmental folds yellow. The head palo brownish-red, on either lobe a pale 

 stripe bordered above with brighter red, and below with darker brown : the very 



