260 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



got a few nice P. opthalmicana from poplar. — W. Prest ; 13, Hol- 

 gate Eoad, York, October 16, 1881. 



Description of the Larva of Pterophorus tephradactylus. 

 — In May last j^ear, and again in May of this year, Mr. W. H. 

 Grigg, of Bristol, kindly sent me larvae of this species feeding on 

 the leaves of golden-rod. Length about half an inch, and of the 

 usual shape characteristic of the genus; rather flattened ventrally, 

 but roofed upwards from the spiracular region to the dorsal area, 

 which is also rather flattened ; head polished, about the same 

 width as the second, but narrower than the third, segment; 

 segmental divisions clearly defined ; tubercles prominent, each of 

 them emitting several short hairs. Ground colour grass-green, 

 the head pale yellow; there is an interrupted grey line along each 

 side of the dorsal ridge, and a faint indication of a similarly coloured 

 subdorsal line ; tubercles greyish white, as are also the hairs ; 

 the segmental divisions yellowish. Ventral surface uniformly 

 grass- green. The pupa is attached by the anal segment to a stem 

 or leaf of the food-plant, and although there is no silken belt its 

 position is not suspended, but flat along the stalk or leaf to which 

 it may be attached. It is barely half an inch long, compact, and 

 of moderate bulk ; there is a distinct depression extending 

 through the centre of the dorsal surface from the head to the 

 anal segment ; and the abdominal divisions, eye- and leg-cases 

 are well defined. Ground colour dingy dull green ; the sides 

 thickly prickled with smoke-colour ; there is also a smoky stripe 

 through the wing-cases ; the hairs grey. The imagos emerged 

 early in June. — G. T. Porritt ; Highroyd House, Huddersfield. 



Does Food produce Variation ? — From recent experience I 

 should be inclined to answer this question in the affirmative. 

 Whilst larva-beating on Saturday last, I obtained what I believe 

 to be a variety of the larva of Smerinthus populi ; it has all the 

 markings of this insect, and, in addition, a double row of ten 

 reddish spots on each side, agreeing exactly with the larva 

 described by Rev. W. W. Flemyngin the 'Entomologist,' October, 

 1880. This insect I found feeding on willow, and although I 

 have placed poplar in the cage it prefers the former for its food. 

 Whether I shall obtain a variety of the imago remains to be seen. 

 — N. C. Graham: Silwood, Tulse Hill, October 6, 1881. 



Does Food produce Variation? — Under this title I notice 



