THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 263 



approach our shores ; in fact it is one of the very few really 

 eastern types that we possess, nearly all the Russian and W. 

 Prussian species disappearing before they arrive here. 



G. R. Crotch. 



University Library, Cambridge. 



Life-hifitory nf Arge Gnlnthea. — The e^^, which is pure 

 white and almost spherical, but with a flattened base, is laid 

 in August, generally about the second week, on several spe- 

 cies of Gramineae (grasses), and I am unable to find that 

 any preference is shown : the young larva emerges in about 

 three weeks [Entom. 148], and, after feeding for a short time, 

 hybernates very early in the autumn, and while yet extremely 

 small : it conceals itself towards the roots of the herbage, 

 and very near the surface of the ground : it feeds again 

 towards the end of April or beginning of May, and attains its 

 full size by the end of that month. When full-fed, which 

 usually occurs towards the end of May, it rests on a. blade of 

 grass in a nearly straight position, the back slightly raised, 

 and the head slightly bent under ; if annoyed it falls to the 

 ground in a curved posture, which can scarcely be called a 

 ring, but lies motionless, feigning deatli until the prospect of 

 immediate danger is past, when it slowly resumes its ordinary 

 position, and reascends its food. Head of nearly the same 

 width as the 2nd segment, beset with scabrous points which 

 emit hairs : body obese, somewhat i'usiform, increasing in 

 size to the 5th segment, thence gradually diminishing to the 

 anal extremity, which terminates in two parallel points above 

 the anal flap, and directed backwards ; segmental divisions 

 not strongly marked, each divided transversely into sections, 

 which are also obscurely indicated ; the sides in the region 

 of the spiracles are sligiitly, almost imperceptibly, dilated ; 

 every part of the body beset, like the head, with scabrous 

 poinis and short hairs, those of the head and ^nd segment 

 sligiitly arcuate and bending forwards, those of the 3rd seg- 

 ment nearly straight and erect, those of the remaining seg- 

 ments arcuate and bending backwards. Colour of the head 

 pale dingy green or pale reddish brown ; of the body paler 

 dingy green or wainscot-brown, with a pretty clearly defined 



