TRIFW.E. 353 



thence to a more warm pink tint except the imder-surface 

 which is pallid ; down the middle of the back can just be 

 seen, deep beneath the surface of the skin, a faint appearance 

 of a pinkish-brown dorsal vessel, gently pulsating ; head very 

 glossy, dark brick-red with a few fine hairs, ujDper lip flesh- 

 colour, mouth dark brown; across the second segment is a 

 broad glossy plate, reddish-brown, rather brighter than the 

 head, its front margin slightly waved and boldly defined 

 with very dark brown, the semicircular hind margin dis- 

 tinctly edged with similar dark brown; between this plate 

 and the head is an interval of pale skin ; anal plate glossy, 

 light reddish-brown edged with dark brown; raised dots 

 rather small, smallest on the middle segments, dull reddish- 

 brown, each bearing a hair ; spiracles small, oval, black ; legs 

 reddish-brown ; prolegs fringed with dark brown hooks.' 



The newly hatched larva is dirty white, with dark brown 

 head, plates, and minute dots ; in two months it becomes of a 

 light pmk, with head, plates, and raised dots of the same 

 colour, but shining; in the spring after hybernation it is 

 dirty white or pale drab, or pink, the head, plates, and spots 

 brownish-red or pinkish-brown as before. From this it 

 rapidly assumes the adult colouring. 



September to June on grasses— Poa trimalis, P. oiemoralis, 

 and P. anmia—ihe very young larv« hiding themselves at 

 once, on emergence, at the base of a tuft of grass, and spinning 

 together the earth, rubbish, and grass roots for protection • 

 towards the winter they construct smooth, silk-lined oval 

 nests or chambers among the grass roots ; here they pass the 

 winter, coming out in mild weather to feed, when they eat 

 away the grass shoots close to the root; but when feedino- 

 up in the spring they occupy during the day less carefully 

 constructed nests, being mere dome-covered hollows out of 

 which they proceed every night to feed, generally as before 

 close to the grass roots, but occasionally on the panicles of 

 seeds. (Adapted from Mr. W. Buckler's very full descrip- 

 tion.) Mr. J. Dunsmore, when collecting the larv^ in 



VOL. IV. 



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