18 B. G. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



The ventral area, including the legs, are lighter than the dorsal area, 

 and of a greeny brown colour. 



On 28th May (36 days old), having just changed skins, the general 

 appearance considerably changed. Length 25 mm. Prevailing colour 

 a dark umber-brown on the dorsal area, with lighter orange-brown 

 along the spiracles and all over the ventral area, only the underside lacks 

 the orange tinge. The dorsal central area is a lighter shade of brown 

 than the area between this and the spiracular stripes. The central area 

 (or stripes) on each segment, is wider on the head side than on the tail 

 side, and makes a pattern (especially towards the tail) like a chain of 

 shields. There are various light dots, the most conspicuous of which 

 are those on the forward points (one on each) of the shield-like markings. 

 Head light brown. 



On the 13th June (52 days old), length 35 mm. General markings 

 much the same as before, only the colour is rather darker brown and 

 the shield-like markings, especially towards the tail, are outlined with 

 very dark brown triangular markings. At this stage the larvae appear 

 to be nearly full-fed and thicken for pupation. There is more uniformity 

 in appearance, inter se, in the later stages. 



After the early stages all the legs are used in progressing, and the 

 larvae appear as regular noctuids. Rolls in an incomplete ring when 

 disturbed, Init is soon active again. 



With regard to general habits, the larvae mostly rest during the 

 day, either amongst the twigs of the food-plant or at bottom of their 

 feeding cage among debris (in my case, moss was supplied). During 

 the night they eat most voraciously. 



All my larvae disappeared for pupation during the week following 

 the 13th of June, being near about 8 weeks in the larvae stage, a firm 

 compact cocoon was formed among the debris and moss at the bottom 

 of the tin. The cocoon is lined with a kind of glutinous silk, and 

 fits the enclosed pupa rather closely. The pupa is very dark brown, 

 almost black, and of the usual noctuid shape, fairly plump and blunt 

 with a pair of small anal hooks. 



Three moths appeared on 4th of March, 1917, while snow was still 

 on the ground. The weather, however, was becoming mild after a long 

 spell of snow and frost. Emergencies continued until 24th of March 

 (forty in all). What mortality there was occurred principally in the 

 pupa stage. I kept the pupae in an outhouse under cover, and I suppose 

 they did not get sufficient moisture. However, the. success was about 

 60 per cent., which is not bad. 



The moths varied considerably in the markings, but could be roughly 

 divided into these groups : 



