S LEPIDOPTERA. 



egg, larva, and pupa stages, with the best methods of breed- 

 ing, rearing, killing, setting, and preserving, would also 

 demand much space ; but they are dealt with more full}^ than 

 would be possible in a work of this nature by Dr. Knaggs in 

 the " Lepidopterists' Guide," the Rev. J. Greene in " Pupa 

 Digging.'' the Rev. J. S. St. John in " Larva Collecting and 

 Breeding " — all comparatively inexpensive works — as well as 

 in the various magazines devoted to Entomology ; so that no 

 one need remain long without the fullest and most reliable 

 information. 



But a few general remarks on larvas may be useful. They 

 have in all cases thirteen divisions or segments, of which the 

 first is the head and the next three the thoracic segments, to 

 which belong the three pairs of true legs. Attaclied to the 

 seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and thirteenth segments there 

 are usually pairs of what are generally known as pro-legs or 

 claspers — thicker muscular processes, having circlets of hooks 

 — which act as legs, and have considerable clinging power. 

 Those on the thirteenth segment are placed more backward 

 than the rest, sometimes much extended. In some internal- 

 feeding species they are differently placed, with booklets 

 outwards, so as to facilitate the passing of the larva through 

 its burrow. In one large group the pro-legs of the seventh 

 to the ninth segments are absent, and in others those on the 

 seventh or seventh and eighth ; while in a few the anal pair 

 is atrophied, its place being taken by a curious pair of ten- 

 tacles having different functions. Those externally-feeding 

 larvsB which possess the full number of legs and pro-legs 

 (sixteen) usually move by a continuous and following action 

 of the whole series, thereby effecting a slightly undulating 

 but fairly level movement ; but in those which are devoid of 

 three pairs of pro-legs the motion is quite different. The 

 legs take a firm hold, and the hinder portion, with its four 

 pro-legs, is brought close up, and grasps the space imme- 

 diately behind, then the legs are released, and the larva 

 reaches out to its full length for the next step. The action 



