A DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA AND PUPA OF DAPHNIS NERII. 78 



gradually deepened to a blackish -biown, and, by the 15th of the month, 

 the antennae and legs had asserted themselves darkly through the 

 skin. The entire pupa had become strongly marked with minute 

 dark freckling, on the dorsal region these freckles had taken the form 

 of transverse lines, doubtless on the basis of the larval skinfolds. The 

 ventral area and wingcases also developed a quantity ol dark 

 freckling, but it was not until Noveuibei- 20th that the pattern 

 of the wings began to be visible through their casings. These quickly 

 intensified, and, on the 23rd, were fully pronounced, and the wing- 

 cases were almost covered with the markings in a dark olive-black. 

 The dorsal region had also darkened to a like degree of the same 

 colour, and the transverse series of freckled lines were almost lost in 

 the general deepening of the olive-black tint. The pupa had for some 

 three weeks led a most quiet existence, and would not move when 

 touched, in marked contrast with its alertness in the earlier stage. 



On the 25th of the month the pattern of the wings through their 

 casings was most distinctly defined, and the ocellated spot on the 

 metathoracic segment sharply visible. This is the marking which is 

 found on the shoulder of the fore wing in the imago. The entire pupa 

 was now ver}^ dark, but the pupacase had a semitransparent appear- 

 ance as if made of tracing-paper. It was still very quiet in its habit. 

 On the morning of the next day, the 26th, at eight o'clock, the imago 

 had emerged, a perfect male insect, and was fully formed, hanging 

 from the top of the case, drying off. The date of pupation having 

 been October 20th, it will be seen that the insect remained in that 

 stage for '61 days. It was kept in the flannel, on earth, in a cage- 

 covered flower-pot, which stood in a large bowl of water. This 

 arrangement was placed by the side of a day-and-night burning stove 

 giving a temperature, where the pot stood, upon an average of 70°F. 

 The water in which the pot was placed kept the earth and flannel 

 damp, though not wet, and the cage (of gauze on wire- framing), 

 placed over the pot, permitted free circulation of air. 



As the larva of this insect is not frequently seen, it may be of 

 interest to have some quoted information from the records of pulilished 

 books upon it, especially as the individual example which forms the 

 subject of this paper was of an abnormal type. The two main points 

 where variation occurs, apart from the general coloration of the larva, 

 are the shape and colour of the ocellated spot on the metathoracic 

 segment, and the construction and position of the caudal horn. In 

 Eoesel's Inxecten, vol. iii., pi. xv, are three illustrations of the larva of 

 D.nen'i. They are beautifully drawn, and were evidently studied from 

 nature with a faithful observation and able hand. The first figure is 

 that of the normal or green type of larva of the species. The head is 

 green, the thoracic segments yellow, the dorsal and lateral surfaces 

 green, with a suggestion of yellow, laterally, on the anal segment. 

 The lateral line is white, with white spots in transverse rows. The 

 ocellated spot is shown in the form of a double lobe, with a black line 

 bordering it. The colour of the spot is blue, with two white cores. 

 The horn is represented as a blunt and pendent object, and not 

 pointed at the end, but terminating in a rounded manner. The 

 second figure is evidently of the form with which this article deals. 

 The head is grey, the thoracic segments and the whole body sienna- 

 coloured, with greyish liver-coloured lateral markings, leaving the 



