A FEW NOTES ON ACIDALIA HUMILIATA. 275 



I quote the following descriptions for comparison with the results 

 of my observation of the various stages of the ovum and larva 

 as far as they have yet progressed : — 



Acidalia osseata, W. V. (= hiuniliata, Hufn.), Sepp's ' Neder- 

 landische Insekten,' 2nd series, vol. iv. pp. 50, et seq. 



The writer captured a fertile female in July, 1877, upon the 

 dunes at Overveen, which laid six ova on July 13th, of which 

 five hatched on July 23rd. 



"Eggs light red, covered with network of regular cells, 

 somewhat more greyish and with smaller cells than those of 

 dilutaria. . . . When first hatched the larvae were dark grey, 

 with black heads and a short hair on each segment, . . . but 

 soon became lighter in colour, and towards the first moult pale 

 red-brown; much less slender than most Acidalia larvae, and 

 hence cannot roll up in the peculiar spiral form taken by many 

 of the genus. First moult Aug. 2nd-4th, second moult end of 

 August and beginning of September. They continued active 

 and feeding until the end of September, yet always fed slowly 

 and sparingly. . . . The larva becomes after the first moult 

 somewhat lighter coloured than originally, yet still almost 

 markingless. The markings and colour of the full-grown larva 

 do not appear until after the second moult, and are most distinct 

 shortly after the third moult. Skin is very rough, entirely 

 covered with wart-like spots, with several short thick hairs on 

 head, prolegs, prothorax, and anus ; one only (equally short) on 

 each middle segment, thickened (club-shape) at the tip " 



In the above extracts I have only quoted as far as the third 

 moult, reserving the remainder of Sepp's very full description 

 until the larvae under my observation have successfully attained 

 their full growth, as it renders comparison with my own observa- 

 tions more easy. 



I am of opinion that the egg is not attached to the food- 

 plant, but is laid in a manner similar to those of the Hepialids, 

 in which Mr. Hodges confirms me from his previous experience 

 of the species in its wild state, which extends over several 

 seasons past. The keenest observation that I have been able to 

 bring to bear upon this interesting species, in this the first 

 attempt to rear it in captivity, has failed to detect up to the 

 present stage any material discrepancy or inaccuracy in the 

 exhaustive description by the well-known continental authority 

 from whom I have quoted above, with the exception of the dates 

 of the early moults and a few minor details. These are probably 

 due to the hereditary effects of climatic influence and isolation 

 in the solitary colony which, as far as has been found at present, 

 constitutes the only foothold of the species in England. 



The ova which I had under observation were apple-shaped, 

 of a light brick-red, reticulated with small and uniformly sym- 



2 c2 



