THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 433 
Eulophus Gallarum is frequent in these two galls.— Francis 
Walker. 
Number of Claspers in young Noctua Larve.—In No. 56 
of the ‘Entomologists Monthly Magazine’ (for January, 
1869), Dr. F. B. White records some notes made by him on 
various Scotch Lepidoptera. It is respecting the first note, 
regarding the larva of C. exoleta, that | now write. Dr. 
White remarks, that in rearing this larva from the egg he was 
surprised to find that, when first hatched, it only possessed 
three pairs of prolegs [I believe the writer meant claspers], 
the first two pairs being undeveloped. He also says that he 
is not aware of any other Noctua larva having the same 
peculiarity. On reading this note, some two years ago, I was 
struck with an idea, which I have since devoted some time 
to working out; and, feeling myself pretty certain as to the 
facts of the case, I venture to give the results of my 
experience. They are as follows:—most, if not all, of the - 
larve of the Noctuz belonging to the section Genuine have, 
when first hatched, but three pairs of claspers, the first two 
pairs being quite undeveloped; they are gradually developed 
as the larve increase in size, and by the third moult they are 
as large as the other pairs, and fit to be used in walking. 
Consequently, when. first hatched, the larve are semi- 
geometriform, and loop more or less when in motion. To 
show that I have some grounds for the above opinion, I 
annex a list of the Noctuz belonging to this section, which I 
have reared, or attempted to rear, from the egg :—Leucanida, 
L. lithargyria; Apamide, M. Brassice and Persicarie ; 
Caradrinide, G. trilinea; Noctuide, R. tenebrosa, N. festiva 
and brunnea; Orthoside, T. gothica; Hadenide, E. lucipara, 
H. serena, A. nebulosa and H. Chenopodii; Xylinida, 
X. lithorhiza (this larva is especially geometriform when 
young, and has the habit of resting attached only by its 
claspers, with its body held straight out from the surface on 
which it is resting, after the manner of true Geometre). 
Heliothide :—I have never yet had the pleasure of obtaining 
eggs of any of this family; but my kind friend, Mr. H. 
Bartlett, of Brecknock Street, Camden Road, this year has 
had eggs of H. dipsaceus, and this family proves an exception 
to the rule, for the larve were, he informs me, true Noctuz 
throughout their lives, and never possessed less than the 
