74 MURRAIN WORM. 



colouring, thus gives a very repulsive (to some people, alarming), look 

 to the creature. 



The colouring is sometimes brownish buff at the folds, with a 

 net-work of blackish freckles, excepting on the three segments behind 

 the head ; these have a band along the side of dusky buff, enclosed in 

 a blackish border, which on the furthest of these segments from the 

 head swells out into a darker blotch. The head and a small curved 

 roughish horn only about a line long, placed above near the caudal 

 extremity, are black. The under side of the grub is huffish, freckled 

 with a smaller pattern than that on the back. The other variety has 

 the ground colour dull green. 



The three excellent coloured figures at plate xxv. of the work 

 mentioned below * give life-like representation of the caterpillar, with 

 a jBgure of the pupa accompanying ; and in the paper on this C. elpenor, 

 at pp. 113-115, in the volume referred to, will be fovmd detailed in- 

 formation regarding the markings of the larva, and various useful 

 points of its life-history, especially as to the nature of its food-plants. 

 Mr. Buckler's notes of these, when the caterpillars are feeding in 

 natural circumstances, show these to be plants that grow by the 

 water, of which the "Great Willow Herb" [Ejnlobium hirsutum) and 

 the "Marsh Bedstraw" [Galium molhujo) are particularly specified. 

 Also a quotation is given by Mr. Buckler from Albin, showing the 

 predilection at least of the larva for watery localities, namely, that 

 " there is something in this caterpillar very remarkable, viz. his 

 dexterity in swimming, for, commonly feeding in or near the water, 

 if at any time he happens to fall in, he turns himself on his back, and 

 swims with his head and tail turned together till he gets hold on some 

 part of the plant, by which he helps himself up again." This may or 

 may not be correct, but the fact of the caterpillar feeding on plants 

 growing in or near water is very important practically. 



When full-grown, the caterpillar spins a web (such as was being 

 begun by one specimen sent me) of an open but strong net-work " on 

 the surface of the soil, sticking in dry leaves and bits of earth, &c.," 

 in which it changes to the chrysalis ; this is somewhat over an inch 

 and three-fifths in length, the ground colour light buflf, variously 

 marked with blackish or smoky colour, and with the abdomen ending 

 in a triangular curved spike. 



The moth, to which this develops (figured at p. 72), is a pretty 

 creature. The thorax and abdomen olive coloured — the first with four 

 pink lines, the latter with three broader stripes running lengthwise ; 

 the fore wings olive, with transverse bands of pink ; the hind wings 

 of a deeper purplish pink, with base and fore edge of a blackish tint. 



* ' The Larvffi of British Butterflies and Moths,' by the late William Buckler. 

 Vol. ii. London : Printed for the Bay Society, mdccclxxxvii. 



