1900] PITH MOTH. 5 



magnified, at p. 1, the change of the caterpillar to the chrysalis con- 

 dition taking place in the tunnel which it had worked out along the 

 centre of the twig, or at the extremity of it, where the empty case is 

 figured as partly exposed in a destroyed leaf-bud at figure 4. Figure 3 

 shows another specimen lying amongst the " frass," caused by its work- 

 ing in the tunnelled twig. The chrysalis was about three-sixteenths of 

 an inch long, and the sheaths of the antennae remarkably noticeable. 



On June 18th, on examining the tips of some of the Apple shoots 

 infested by this L. atra, or Pith Moth, which had been sent me, I 

 found these for the most part had become dried, but in two instances 

 contained the chrysalis.* 



The specimen which I especially examined was about three- 

 sixteenths of an inch in length ; the shape cylindrical, largest across 

 the thorax. The head of a dull red, and the back of the next segment 

 reddish ; colour for the greater part of the length of a palish tawny or 

 ochreous tmt, but reddish at the tip of the tail, with three or four 

 reddish transverse lines dividing the preceding segments above. 



Beneath, the form of the limbs showed well with the extremities of 

 the antennse, free, and reaching to about the second segment from the 

 end of the tail ; and underneath the body, and almost close to the 

 extremity of the tail, were two dark-coloured short narrow processes, 

 forming together a somewhat fork-like growth. 



Another specimen of chrysalis, which was partly exposed on 

 breaking open the tunnelled twig in which it lay, was of a similar 

 ochreous or light tawny colour, with red tint at the head. 



These specimens gave good examples of the change from caterpillar 

 to chrysalis or pupal condition taking place in the shoot previously 

 bored or tunnelled by caterpillar workings, as shown (magnified) at 

 fig. 3, p. 1, taken from a specimen sent me in 1898. 



The further life-history of the Pith Moth up to its development was 

 completed by the observations sent by Mr. Lansdell, from Wyld's 

 Green, near Worcester, on July 5th ; that is, between a fortnight and 

 three weeks from the date when I found that some of the caterpillars 

 in Apple shoots which I was watching had turned to chrysalis state. 

 Mr. Lansdell then wrote me that he had several Pith Moths (hatched 

 from infested Apple twigs similar to those which he had sent me), of 

 which he forwarded descriptions ; and a few days later let me have 

 two specimens. Of these, the moth which arrived uninjured agreed 

 excellently in all characteristic points with Stainton's description of 

 L. atra, Haw., as given in his ' Tineina,' pp. 239, 240 (also see 

 ante, p. 3). 



* Postal transmission and withering of the small terminal pieces of the shoots 

 appeared to be very unfavourable to development of the caterpillars, for of those 

 sent me few reached chrysalis state. 



