156 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



covering. The insect shrinks away from this and becomes de- 

 tached, so that it can be shaken like an Antherea pupa in its 

 cocoon, or a nut in the shell. The true pupal skin is very thin 

 and transparent, and, provided of course the outer shell is 

 opened, the colour changes of the chrysalis can be observed 

 plainly. After the larva has taken up its position for the trans- 

 formation, there is no change for thirty-six hours or so, the first 

 being a narrowing of the thoracic portion, with an increased 

 thickness in same. Upon examining the future pupa at this 

 time underneath, it will be noticed that the shell has closed in 

 on each side, enveloping the head and legs completely; no 

 closing in upon the prolegs occurs. For some hours no further 

 alteration takes place, then the remaining portion of the creature 

 contracts, accompanied by a considerable rise in the dorsal 

 surface ; the pupal change, so far as can be ascertained from 

 outside observance, now being complete. However, without in- 

 creasing the length of these notes, I think I can safely state from 

 my experience that it is. For several days after, the shell is 

 liable to split at the outside edge or rim if care in handling same 

 is not taken, the whole of the top being liable to split and come 

 off like a lid, and the chrysalis, being particularly delicate and 

 pulpy, may be killed. 



(To be continued.) 



ACID ALIA MARGINEPUNCTATA, ab. 



The above figure represents an unusual form of A. margine- 

 punctata {yromutata). Mr. Lucas has so faithfully delineated the 

 peculiar marking of this example that it is unnecessary to say 

 anything beyond stating that the ground colour is grey. The 

 specimen is one of two, both of the same form, taken in August 

 last by Mr. J. P. Lawson, of South View, Clevedon, Somersetshire. 

 They were flying at dusk on a hillside in the neighbourhood. 



It may be interesting to add that Mr. Lawson, in reply to an 

 enquiry respecting the ordinary form, writes: — "From what I 

 can gather from other people, typical examples of this species 

 have never been taken at Clevedon, the nearest locality in which 

 it is found being Weston-super-Mare, which is some little distance 

 from here." 



Richard South. 



