LIFE-HISTORIKS. 109 



out, under a ^in. objective, what appears to be a minute raised 

 process. The top of the egg exterior to these micropylar structures is 

 covered with a strongly-developed cell-pattern. Owing to the way in 

 which the cell -walls sweep outwards in the arcs of circles from the 

 centre in opposite directions, the cells are diamond-shaped. The walls 

 are much raised with processes at their intersecting points, which get 

 larger, as do the cells from the centre outwards ; while on the edge 

 the processes become enormously developed, and are the most marked 

 feature of the egg. On the sides they are still detached, but, owing 

 to their being arranged in vertical rows, they give the effect when 

 viewed from above of very coarse ribs. One of the eggs has 45 of 

 these rows, but they are somewhat irregular as regards size at different 

 portions of the circumference, and differ somewhat in the other two 

 eggs. [Received from Mr. H. Powell. Described July 12th, 1903. J — 

 A. W. Bacot. 



Comparison of the ova of Noctua Triangulum and N. ditra- 

 PEziuM. — The egg of the last-named species is the smaller, its diameter 

 being -GSOmm., height -imm. to •45mm., that of X trianciulHhi, by 

 comparison only, is -Smm. to •9mm. in diameter, by about •5mm. in 

 height. The egg of S. ditrapcdniii forms a somewhat rounded dome, 

 curving in slightly at base ; it is delicately, but clearly, ribbed and 

 cross-ribbed. There are about 80 vertical ribs, 14 or 15 of which are 

 short, the remainder of which cross the shoulder and run in towards the 

 micropyle. The micropylar rosette of cells covers a quite considerable 

 area, the centre of which is but very slightly raised. Colour, a 

 delicate pearly-white. The egg of N. trimufiduvi is not quite so 

 rounded a dome, having a tendency to be cone-shaped. The number 

 of vertical ribs is about the same, 16 long ones crossing the shoulder, 

 and 14 short ones, delicately but clearly cut, as in that of .Y. (Utra- 

 peziiiiii. The micropylar area differs somewhat, there being a slight 

 depression with a central raised button. There is a quite startling 

 difference in colour, however, in that the ovum of xV. (Utvapeuiiiii 

 darlvens to a dull dirty-grey hue before hatching, while that of A'. 

 triauf/tdum undergoes practically no change, remaining of a pure white 

 right up to the emergence of the larva, the dark colour of head and 

 anal plate of the larva showing up as two dark spots. [I have to 

 thank Mr. Newman for ova of N. trianqvlum. Comparison made 

 July 4th, 1903.]— A. W. Bacot. 



Egg-laying and egg ofEpione parallelaria (vespertaria). — Although 

 not a very complete description, the following notes on the egg of Epionc 

 parallelaria [vespertaria) may be of use. The pairing takes place soon 

 after dark, and the female will commence laying her eggs during the 

 same night. When first laid the egg is primrose-yellow in colour ; 

 oval in outline, but rather flat at one of the poles. It appears to be a 

 large egg at this time for so small a moth, but contracts a good deal 

 when the usual depression, characteristic of fertility, takes place. I 

 have not the exact number of eggs laid by a female, but they will not 

 much exceed a hundred. The egg is firmly attached to the foodplant, 

 and changes colour during the second and third days, becoming n 

 coral-red, and remaining like this through the winter. I made a note 

 of the appearance of the egg (on April 14th, 1893) under a good micro- 

 scope, but I have not the power by me. It appeared then to be dark 

 blood-red, with brilliant silvery spots in groups of seven each, over the 



