22(l THE EXTOAKM.OGIJSTS KEt'Olil). 



as thiH lighter portion, there t'oUovved a stripe of the darker tint, like 

 the dorsal surface, which was supplied at each edge with the broken 

 reticulated dark line. The spiracular region came next, and was 

 of the lighter tint, gradually getting greenish-grey as it neared the 

 ventral surface, which was of that tint. Speaking generally, the larva 

 was light tawny or grey, with a broad darker dorsal stripe (containing 

 the thin light mediodorsal line) and with a stripe on each side of the 

 same darker tint, the darker surfaces being edged with still darker 

 reticulated lines. These markings ran the whole length of the larva, 

 from the head to the anal segment. The first of the dorsal warts on 

 each segment, and the wart above each spiracle, were picked out strongly 

 dark— more or less with the individual. The spiracles were light, 

 edged with darker, and the larva still showed hairy projections, 

 particularly around the head and the anal segment. The larva- 

 appeared to grow (juickly at this stage of existence, and were about 

 § in. long at this record. From now they led a very sluggish life and 

 remained amongst the bottom of the grass on which they were fed 

 (Pad annua) all day, feeding apparently only at night. The feeding at 

 this period resulted in the eating through the grass of elongated holes, 

 near the edges of the leaf. This seemed characteristic of the feeding- 

 habit for the earlier part of existence, and when about h in. long the 

 larva fed at the edge of the leaf, in which it ate long deep notches. 

 On July 20th the appearance of the larva was the same as before, in 

 its markings, but it had begun to show a tendency to alteration in 

 contour, having a gradual tapering shown in its form to both ex- 

 tremities, though still remaining stout and obese in construction. 



On August 4th the larva was ^ in. long, and seemed to be 

 feeding well and growing faster than before. The markings were 

 still the same but rather deeper in character, and a segmental 

 division at the skinfolds now showed a greenish-grey tincture 

 when the larva was extended. A very tine reticulation all over its 

 body-surface began to assert itself. This was a tint midway, in 

 strength, between the lighter and darker parts on the light portion, 

 and rather darker and richer in hue than the ground colour on the 

 dark portions. The same sluggish existence was followed, and the 

 creature showed an aptitude for concealment amongst the grass which 

 was very striking. On August 20th things had not advanced greatly. 

 The aspect of the larva was still the same, though it had grown to a 

 length of f in., and had, perhaps, developed a more marked tapering in 

 its form towards the head and anal segment. Not that the head was 

 small, but this conformation had been arrived at by a tendency to 

 enlargement in the central segments. Nothing of note marked the 

 progress of the larvae from this time of gradual growth up to the 

 middle of September except the misfortune of losing all of the examples 

 but four individuals, suddenly. Possibly this was the result of an 

 unlucky feed of grass which may have become contaminated by 

 animals. This is an unforeseen trouble which I cannot help thinking 

 often arises in and around London, and is most disastrous in effect. 

 By September 20th the larva was 1 in. long, very smooth and sleek in 

 form, and looked like a very well bred handsome creature. It had all 

 the graceful obesity of the slug type, the head was blunt and fairly 

 large, though smaller in volume than the ]irothoracic segment, into 

 which it could be partly received. It was rather more yellow and 



