THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 303 



Buckler and the Rev. J. Hellins (" Notes on the Earlier 

 Stages of some Species of Lilhosidas") : — "On July 30th, 

 1865, some eggs were received from Dr. Knaggs, and noted 

 as globular, pearly in texture, and clear purplish brown in 

 colour. The larvaj hatched August 13th, but no note of them 

 was taken, and they must soon have perished from want of 

 proper food and treatment. However, there is no doubt that 

 in their habitat they must hybernate when small, and feed up 

 in early summer. On May 24th, 1867, after considerable 

 search, a number were found, then approaching full growth, 

 on the Sussex coast. The food is a blackish brown lichen, 

 growing on stones above liigh-water mark, and in some cases 

 mixed with a yellow lichen, — a fact of much interest when 

 the colouring of the larva is considered. The larva seems 

 fond of sunshine, moving about in it slowly over the stones. 

 When about to moult it protects itself by spinning overhead 

 a number of silken threads, under cover of which it remains 

 until the moult is completed. The moths were bred early in 

 July." Then follows a description of the full-fed larva. — 

 Edward A. Fitch ; Maldoti, Essex. 



Henry R.Jackson. — Distinction of iJie Lepidopleroiis and 

 Coleopterous Larva. — Will you kindly inform me of any 

 characteristics by which I can always distinguish between 

 the larvae of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera ? — H. It. J. 



[The best distinction that I know of is that the larvae of 

 Lepidoptera always possess claspers on the under side of the 

 abdomen, with strongly prehensile hooks. With these they 

 clasp the twigs, and hold them steadily while they devour the 

 leaves ; and these organs serve also lor progression, enabling 

 them to ascend the trunk of trees with ease and rapidity. 

 Some entomologists have called them feet or legs, often 

 adding an explanatory prefix, as pro]egs or fore legs, 

 prehensile legs or abdominal legs. The larvae of Coleoptera 

 have no such organs. Then the larvae of Lepidoptera have 

 ten ocelli or simple eyes, five on each cheek : these are 

 situated close to the mouth, five on each side, and give to 

 the caterpillar the wondrous power of examining the structure 

 of a leaf, and of thus acquiring information as to whether it is 

 a suitable species on which to feed ; these are truly micro- 

 scopes of high power, and are brought systematically almost 

 in contact with the leaf, as we use a pocket-lens of high 



