1895 1 277 



Harper Crewe, who from it bred a specimen of M. anceps. Tlie 



following year both he and his clerk looked for and found what they 



thought was another larva of the same species, but 1 bred only 



basilinea from it. Subsequent researches by thorn again brought me 



only basilinea. 



"Now, I must tell you that since then, thougli many years ago, 



Mr. Robson, of Hartlepool, sent me several larva;, which he said were 



anceps, reared from the eQ,g on garden lettuce. They were about 



three-fourths of an inch long when they came to me, and eventually 



grew to be an inch and half long on the same sort of food, which ever 



since I repented giving them, for it relaxed them too much and several 



died ; one only going to earth in November, but no moth ever resulted 



from it. Therefore, without this proof of identity I was not sure 



what species it was I had figured — for I took, I think, two figures — 



and certainly I have never in all the years that have since passed seen 



a similar larva. There was, however, as I noticed at the time I was 



drawing its figure, something that reminded me of Hadena dentina, and 



this, if I remember right, consisted of black dashes just along the 



upper edge of the paler but obscure subdorsal line, though in other 



respects it was different from deiitina, besides it greater size. Ever 



since, the figure or figures have remained among the unknown ; but I 



must hunt it up and refresh my memory. Probably the larva feeds 



on grasses, as we know that of basilinea does." 



" Wm. Bucklkr." 



" Emsworth : October 1th, 1882." 



I think that there is no doubt of the accuracy of these observations, 

 and that these figures, which are doubtless still extant, do represent 

 the larva of Mamestra anceps. 



The only description of the larva of this species upon which 1 

 can lay my hand is that reproduced by Hoffmann under the name 

 sordida, Bkh., infesta, Tr. 



" Larva pale brown, with an obscure darker dorsal stripe and two similar side 

 stripes on each side of it ; four black spots on each segment ; under the side stripes 

 on each segment, at the back, a more oblique darker streak ; head, dorsal plate, and 

 anal flap black-brown. Lives in March and April on grasses, concealed in the day 

 time, and undergoing its transformation to a pupa in the earth ; emerging in July 

 and August " (Bkh., 4, 578). 



The time of emergence here stated seems rather late, but in other 

 respects the description seems tolerably suitable to the larvae partially 

 reared by Mr. Buckler. But there appears to be no suflicient reason 

 why the larva of so familiar a species should not be clearly made 

 known and fully described in this country. 



39, Linden Grove, Nunhead, S.E. : 

 October \Uh, 1895. 



