1888.] 223 



sho'oing a decided absence of vitality, and the aciciilar leaves (or 

 needles, as they are more generally known) being shrivelled and brown. 

 The mine or burrow is from one and a half to three or more inches 

 long, contains a quantity of frass, and is terminated at each end by a 

 round hole for exit, and these holes are usually situated on opposite 

 sides of the shoot. If the burrow contains a larva, frass of a pale 

 reddish-brown colour is seen to be protruding from the lower hole. 

 When the larva is of large size, it is by no means uncommon to find 

 two or three mines of different length immediately succeeding each 

 other on the same stem, in which case the largest one, and that which 

 is furthest from the apex of the stem or shoot, will contain the larva. 

 A Coleopteron {^Hylurgus piniperdci) also mines the one year old 

 shoots of Scotch fir, and, judging from injuries committed by it, is far 

 too common in this district. Its mine or burrow is scarcely ever 

 more than two inches, and often not more than an inch or inch and a 

 half long, and there is but one hole for exit, which is situated at the 

 base of the burrow. Moreover, around the hole a quantity of a 

 yellowish resinous substance is to be noticed. This resinous exudation 

 is never observable near the holes caused by the larva of the Phycid, 

 so that the eye soon becomes accustomed to distinguish between the 

 working of the Coleoptei'on and of the Lepidopteron. 



Descsiption of the Laeva. — The full-grown larva is active, and of about 

 five-eighths of an inch in length ; cylindrical, but tapering slightly behind. Dull 

 greyish or dull greyish-white, with the narrow dorsal and broad sub-dorsal lines dark 

 smoky-grey ; spots similar, with abundant hairs. Intestinal canal dark green, giving 

 a greenish tinge to the body. Head shining dark brownish-black ; thoracic plate 

 dark brown, usually grey towards its anterior edge. Anal plate, ventral surface, and 

 legs, horn colour. 



Burrowing in a last year's shoot of Finns sylvestris (Scotch fir), eating out the 

 pith, and partially filling the passage with frass, but having a round hole for exit at 

 each end of the tunnel. Occasionally feeding in young sprouting shoots, or in a 

 very small cone. Pupates probably in a cocoon beneath moss or rubbisli, and 

 emerges between the end of June and the middle of August. 



Most of my larvse appeared to be still feeding about the middle 

 of May, when, in consequence of protracted illness, I was unable to 

 give them further attention, so that all (with the exception of three 

 which had successfully pupated, and producing moths on the 22nd, 

 23rd, and 28th July) died as larvae, probably from the stems becoming 

 too dry. This year I again looked for larvse of this species at the end 

 of April and beginning of May, but could find only two shoots con- 

 taining them. I think they must have fed up earlier than in the 

 preceding year, for several empty shoots were noticed, which bore 



