114 [October, 



Guenee's ' loonographie des Chenilles ; ' the only remark I have to make on this 

 head being, that in my specimens there was an evident difference in the shades of 

 green exhibited by the larvce when seen together, some being darker and of a bluish- 

 green, while others were more of a yellowish-green. This difference in colour did 

 not arise, as I at first thought it might, from the amount of shade enjoyed by the 

 shrubs, as the darkest larva was found on a small plant of a foot and a-half in height 

 exposed to the full rays of the sun. The oval dorsal marks on the seventh and ninth 

 segments were also much more strongly marked in some specimens than in others. 



The larva) of this species are very easily reared, being very sluggish and rarely 

 moving from the leaf on which they may be resting at the time until it, or those 

 within reach, are consumed. Wlien they do move, it is only for a short distance, 

 and they invariably retreat again to their original leaf on which their web is spun. 

 This web consists of fine threads of silk closely plastered over the upper surface of 

 the leaf, so as to give it a white, shining appearance. It seems absolutely necessary 

 to the larva to enable it to cling to the leaf, and one of its first proceedings on going 

 to a new leaf is to spin this coating of silk over the surface. Thus one small larva, 

 from some defect in its spinning apparatus, was iinable to weave the usual carpet for 

 itself, although it kept incessantly going through the usual motions for doing so, 

 moving its head from side to side. It was constantly falling off the twig on which 

 it was placed, and had to be replaced several times a day, till at length it fell off 

 and was lost. 



They feed principally during the night, remaining inactive during the day, ex- 

 cept when it is bright and fine, when, strange to say, they begin to eat as vigorously 

 as on the approach of evening. They are not voracious feeders, however, and eat by 

 fits and starts, never consuming much at a time. They have also a curious habit, 

 when exposed to a strong sim, of extending and retracting the segments of their 

 bodies, as if they appeared to enjoy the heat. When once they begin to eat a leaf, 

 they seldom commence another till they have completely finished it, gnawing the 

 midrib down to the very stem. Although found in dry localities, and in a region 

 subject to little or no rain, they seem to be fond of moisture. I was in the habit 

 of sprinkling their food with water, and I have often noticed them drinking up the 

 drops. In a state of repose, the larva attaches itself to the leaf by its four pairs 

 of claspers only, the anal pair and feet proper being elevated, and the horns lying 

 along the back. 



Several days before moulti)ig, the now head appears in the form of a square 

 dark green patch immediately behind the existing horns. This patch is bounded on 

 each side by a rose-coloured border, ultimately pioving to be the new horns ; these 

 last are at first very lax and drooping, but soon gain their normal position. There is 

 a marked difference in the size of the head after the last moult, it being then nearly 

 twice its former size ; the horns, also, instead of being perfectly straight, are curved 

 slightly downwards towards the back. 



When about to pupate, the larva becomes of a clear transparent green, and 

 rather shrunk in size, and, if placed in the sun, becomes very restless, generally ending 

 by falling off the food plant. It then spins a small ball of silk on the imder side of 

 a leaf, either on the midrib or on the edge, to which it attaches itself by the tail 



