90) The Cane Grubs of Australia. 
period of oviposition is covered by these dates, since the present beetles 
were obtained from the forest. 
KILLED BY DESICCATION. 
Fifty-eight eggs, deposited January 20 and left in dry soil, soon 
shrivelled. Thirteen eggs were divided into two lots on January 20, six 
placed in moist soil, seven in dry; by February 2 all were dead in the 
dry lot, hatching in the normal one. Twenty-seven eggs on January 22 
were kept in moist soil, the same number exposed to the atmosphere in 
shade. The latter were completely shrivelled after forty-eight hours, 
the first hatched February 1. Both lots taken at random from one large 
lot. Forty eggs were placed February 7 under a shallow layer of moist 
soil; they were shrivelled by February 9; the soil was then thoroughly 
dry. 
On February 18, six eggs were placed in diffused sunlight (partly 
cloudy), and six in the shade. The former were shrivelled after one 
hour, the latter after several. Suitable controls kept under a pile 
of moist earth remained normal. 
DEPOSITION. 
Tryon (1896) states that the eggs are deposited in a mass, a cavity 
having previously been prepared for them by the mother beetle. Also, 
that in confinement eggs are deposited singly. In both cases they are 
placed about six inches beneath the soil. In confinement we have met 
with both cases. Our only experience with eggs in the field yielded 
eleven of them in a cluster, and which were ploughed up February 4 in 
dry clay loam of natural forest; they were in a rude cavity and at a 
depth of seven inches. 
THE LARVA. 
NUMBER OF STAGES. 
There are three distinct larval stages, Judging from the diameter 
of the head. Direct evidence of this was obtained by rearing. Thus, 
ten recently hatched larvee were placed into sifted soil planted to corn 
on January 26; they were then, of course, in Stage I. On February 17 
only eight remained, still in Stage I. On March 2, one larva in Stage II. 
was noticed upon the surface of the soil. March 14, only four larve 
remained, all in Stage Il, On March 30 no change. April 14, two of the 
larvee were in II., two in III.; April 22, all four were in the same stage, 
namely IIT. May 19, unchanged; and so on June 5, July 20, and 
August 3. 
In a second ease, sixteen young larve were placed into a pot of 
sifted soil which was planted to corn. On March 2, or a month later, 
twelve larve remained, four of which had grown into Stage II. On 
March 14, there were but eight alive, of which six were in Stage IT. 
On April 27, of the two remaining larve both were in Stage III.; one 
recently dead specimen was in II. On May 19, one larva in III. 
remained, one found dead in III. July 20, the single larva found 
recently dead, in ITI. 
For measurement of the head, see description of the stages. 
