170 THK ENTOMOLOGIST. 



yoiuifT larvae," says Mr. Buckler, " at first appeared to be 

 veritable loopers, twelve legs only being visible ; but as they 

 grew larger tlie other legs became apparent, though still in 

 walking they did not use the first pair of ventral legs." Mr. 

 Buckler must have so frequently observed these characters 

 in the young larvae of Mania typica, Manoestra Brassicae, and 

 a host of other infant larvae of Noctuae, that he will at once 

 see, although strictly correct in the case of the present 

 species, it is by no means distinctive or peculiar. 1 make 

 this remark not by way of criticism, but rather for the sake of 

 introducing a second and collateral observation. The larva 

 of Acontia is characterized by having six claspers only, 

 whilst the species now under consideration has ten; and two 

 types of larvae differing in so primary a character cannot 

 with any propriety be called by the same generic name ; 

 I have therefore proposed another for the species familiarly 

 known as Luctuosa. At the same time 1 must disclaim every 

 idea of merit as a discoverer, for Guenee has not merely 

 described this interesting larva with minuteness and exact- 

 ness, but invites especial attention to the fact of its possessing 

 the normal number of claspers. He says: — " I find in the 

 larva of Luctuosa a very curious, and 1 may say unique, 

 exception among the Noctuelites ; Acontia luctuosa has a 

 larva entirely different from that of all other Acontiae, and 

 provided with sixteen feet. * * * Were I as exclusive as 

 I have been supposed in making the characters of the perfect 

 insect subordinate to those of the larva, I should not have 

 hesitated to refer to the family Catephidae a species so 

 strikingly exceptional. * * * I must, however, be allowed 

 to remark that the exception which this species offers is so 

 remarkable and so strongly pronounced, that 1 think we 

 ought to wait for a more perfect acquaintance not only with 

 this species, but more especially with the earlier states of 

 others in both the neighbouring families, before we pro- 

 nounce any decided opinion as to its natural situation." — 

 Edward Newman. 



A Life-liistory of Phyllotoma microcephala, Klug. — The 

 earliest evidence of the presence of this larva occurs about 

 the 20lh of June : if we examine those leaves of Alnus 

 glutinosa (the common alder) which are frequented by the 

 perfect insects, a u)inute brown-coloured spot, immediately 



