A DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA AND PUPA OF DAPHNIS NKRII. 69 



24th I saw it change its skin for the 5th time, and appear in a 6th 

 stage. It had no difficulty in freeing itself from the old skin, and, 

 as far as I could see, it was perfectly formed. At first all the 

 markings were pale, but as the larva dried, the black markings 

 deepened, and the pale yellow marks turned orange, so that at length 

 the coloui's and pattern were almost identical with those of the 5th 

 stage, and very clear. The white ground occupied a greater area than 

 before, however, the black markings being smaller. The skin did not 

 look loose, as in the case of a larva which has just passed a normal 

 moult. The head was very large, nearly double the size of that of a 

 5th stage larva. Markings the same, on a larger scale. True legs and 

 prolegs also very large. For two days this monstrosity did not eat, 

 but occasionally wandered clumsily about, more often resting quietly. 

 It soon appeared that its mouth was not properly formed. I noticed 

 that it frequently moved its jaws, but they did not close completely, 

 and when, at length, it commenced to feed, it was easy to see that 

 something was wrong. It had difficulty in keeping the food to its mouth, 

 and in biting. In spite of this, however, it fed frequently, though not 

 continuously as larvae of P. alexanor do in the last stage. The meals were 

 short and evidently painful to the caterpillar, for it seemed to get 

 exasperated with its efforts after a while. Under these conditions, 

 growth was very slow, although, by September 2nd, it was considerably 

 more bulky than any P. alexanor larva I had ever seen. At this time, 

 too, its movements were much less clumsy than at first. I had some 

 hopes that it would complete this extra stage, and was looking forward 

 to further interesting developments at the end of it, but after Septem- 

 ber 2nd the larva began to show signs of disease, often, when at rest, 

 allowuig the fore-part of the body to hang downwards at right angles, a 

 kink existing between the 5th and 6th segments. It died about 

 September 8th, evidently from malformation of the alimentary organs, 

 and consequent starvation. I prepared it, but not with great success. 

 I also kept the 5th skin. This case is quite unique in my experience. 

 I have known larvse to pupate one stage before their normal time, but 

 have never known a larva go one step further than its natural limit 

 until now. [See Ent. Mn.Maxf., 1896, p. 54. Ed. 



A description of the larva and pupa of Daphnis nerii {icith />/atr). 



By .J. C. DOLLMAN. F.E.S. 

 {Concluded frn))i p. 41,) 



On the evening of the 20th of the month, successful pupation was 

 found to have been accomplished, the larva having improvised a pupal 

 cell from the foldings of the flannel which had been laid upon the 

 surface of the earth in the flower-pot. The edges and the ends of the 

 material forming the chamber had been slightly connected with a few 

 threads of web, and, by gently opening one end the pupa was visible. 

 It had, apparently, but recently assumed the condition, and was very 

 delicate and fresh in appearance. The fore part of the pupa, the head 

 and thorax, was of a bright, light, greenish-grey, while the posterior 

 portion was of a light butter-coloured yellow tint. The whole of the 

 surface was translucent and shiny in eftect, and the pupa seemed to be 

 extremely lively and active, taking alarm at the least occasion. The 



