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The larva of Cluerocampa capensis feeds on the wild vine, and is green, 

 shaded with oblique stripes of pale violet ; it has two eye-like spots on the 

 thoracic segment, but they are very small, and would in this case hardly be 

 serviceable to the insect in frightening away birds ; the general coloration 

 of the caterpillar is probably protective. Another Choerocampa larva feeding 

 on the wild vine is dark-coloured, but with very large eye-like spots, which 

 give it a grotesque appearance. Mrs. M. E. Barber, in a paper read before 

 the Linnean Society, mentioned the larva of a species of Chcerocanipa which 

 feeds on Convolvulacem, and which in its younger stage is green, but 

 becomes dark coloured prior to burrowing, at which period it may be seen 

 wandering about the ground. The species is extremely abundant. The 

 larva of Anthercea Tyrrhea is so abundant in some seasons that the thorn- 

 trees [Acacia horrida) are stripped of their foliage over miles of area. The 

 caterpillar is conspicuously marked with black, white and yellow ; when 

 touched it jerks its head backwards and ejects a quantity of a nauseous 

 green fluid. Mr. Weale stated that he had never seen it attacked by birds, 

 although it is often infested with ichneumons. The moth — to judge by the 

 number of wounded specimens — is attacked largely by some uiglit-Hying 

 animal, probably bats. Many of the larvte of Sphinc/idcB when seized have 

 a habit of doubling up the body and then jumping a considerable distance 

 with a spring-like action. This is especially the case with species having 

 eye-like markings, and it is probable that if attacked by birds in a hesitating 

 manner, such species might effect their escape amid the grass or foliage. 



Mr. Meldola stated that, in the December number of ' Kosmos,' Fritz 

 Miiller had recorded a number of most interesting observations bearing 

 upon the subject of the coloration of caterpillars. The larvae of Dione Juno 

 and Acrcea Thalia live gregariously, and are brown in colour; they are 

 covered with spines, but, being of dull colours, their spiny protection (which 

 in the case of D. Jxrno is very imperfect) would not preserve them unless 

 they were distinguished as inedible at the right time, and not after being 

 seized, in accordance with the principles laid down by Mr. Wallace. It is 

 suggested that the social habits of the larvae which lead them to congregate 

 in large numbers make up for their want of colour, since their offensive 

 odour then gives timely warning to an approaching enemy. The caterpillars 

 of Cokenis Julia and Dione VaniUcB are equally wanting iu bright colours, 

 but ai'e solitary in their habits, and these species rest on the under side of 

 the leaf when feeding. On the other hand, the caterpillars oi Heliconins 

 Eucrate, Colainis Dido and C. Isabella, which are of solitary habits and 

 which freely expose themselves, are very gaudily coloured, and therefore 

 most conspicuous. As examples of neaiiy allied larvae, of which some 

 species are gregarious and others solitary, Fritz Miiller mentions Morpho 

 and Brassolis, which are gregarious, while Opsiphanes and Caligo are 

 solitary. The larva of Papiiio Pomj)eius also is gregarious, and those of 



