122 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



during the night of March 8-9th it moulted for the sixth and 

 last time. On March 12th this one was an inch and a quarter 

 long, and on the 19th an inch and five-eighths. On April 17th 

 it commenced to spin threads on the muslin cover of its box, but 

 languished, and by May 1st was unmistakably dead. 



By April 13th all the remaining larvae except one, which had 

 died, had moulted for the sixth time, and I was able to preserve 

 a full-grown one. 



The following is an exact description of the larva after its 

 final change, made from living specimens. The previous descrip- 

 tions have merely been to give the general appearance as they 

 would strike a casual observer at the different ages, the markings 

 of the full-fed larvae, though probably all present clearly enough 

 in its earlier stages if viewed through a powerful magnifying- 

 glass, not being clearly visible to the naked eye. 



The larva after its final change is about an inch and a quarter 

 long, increasing to an inch and five-eighths when full-fed. It is 

 almost cylindrical, tapering slightly from the centre both ways, 

 towards the head and anal segment. The head, as Newman 

 observes (Entom. vi. p. 34), is black and glabrous, and narrower 

 than the second segment. It is also, as he says, distinctly 

 notched on the crown, and with convex cheeks. The legs, like 

 the head, are shining black. The back is black, and is marked 

 on each segment with a cluster of warts. The cluster extends 

 the whole breadth of the back and length of each segment, 

 meeting the similar clusters on the adjoining segments, and so 

 giving the appearance of a ragged dorsal band in the young larvae. 

 The upper part of the sides is black ; the lower portion and the 

 belly, prolegs, and claspers mouse-colour tinged with lilac, the 

 prolegs and claspers being streaked with fulvous-brown markings. 

 On each segment, in a line with the spiracles, are white marks 

 with a lemon tinge and a slight indication of a black border to 

 them, one towards the front of each segment and one towards 

 the rear, and four fulvous-brown warts one below the other. 

 From the warts on back and sides spring tufts of light fulvous- 

 brown bristles. The spiracles, nine in number, are black. The 

 claspers are stretched out behind when at rest, and the larva 

 generally lies perfectly straight out, but if touched at once rolls 

 into a ball. 



The accompanying drawing, made from a living specimen, 

 for which I am indebted to Mrs. Benthall, gives an admirable 

 representation of the general appearance of the larva. 



