of the effects of low temperatures on larvcc. 129 



require blows of a hammer to break it) lying perfectly- 

 stiff and motionless, the surface temperature at the spot 

 having stood at various heights, from eighteen to twenty- 

 eight degrees, on the ten previous nights. On examining 

 again on February 7th after the thaw, I found the larvae 

 (with one exception) perfectly well, and recovering power 

 of movement on being placed in moderate warmth. 



Larvae of Scoli/tus destructor, motionless in elm bark 

 about two feet from the ground, on the 5th of February 

 were also perfectly healthy in almost every case, and 

 recovered power of movement on being brought into a 

 Avarm room after lying for the night in a temperature of 

 about forty-three degrees. 



Of Lepidopterous larvae I was only able to observe a 

 very few specimens, but I found a caterpillar, apparently 

 of the Cabbage Moth — Mamestra BrassiccB — (but from 

 the ill-defined colouring, not distinguishable with cer- 

 tainty fi-om that of Triphcejia Pronuba), perfectly Avell and 

 thriving when dug up during the frost, and again, on the 

 1st of March, at a depth of only two or three inches under- 

 ground. LarvjB of Zeuzera j^sculi on the 7th of Feb- 

 ruary, and a few days later were well and active in holly 

 stems, of which one was only thick enough to allow good 

 accommodation for the larva, and consequently could have 

 given little protection from cold. 



Of Pieris pupa3 I had only just enough to show Pieris 

 Napi torpid with cold when brought in, but recovering 

 power of contortion next day and continuing healthy and 

 lively on disturbance. Another pupa-case (much faded 

 but apparently also of P. Napi), was quite full of healthy 

 Ichneumonideous larva?, motionless at first, but, like the 

 other larvte, shortly recovering power of movement. 



In the case of Cynipideous larvee of various species 

 I found inquilines of Cynips Kalian generally alive and 

 well ; the larva of C. Kollari itself Avas of course only to 

 be met with exceptionally, and I noticed in one specimen 

 (and in a veiy slight degree in some of the inquilines) 

 that the grubs were not as fat and firm as in their autumn 

 state; the segments near the head especially looking as if 

 their contents had been absorbed, and flaccid and impres- 

 sible to touch. The larvje of the Quercus cerris (acorn- 

 gall) appeared well, and Avere of particular interest from 

 this being the second winter they have passed in the 

 larval state. I found the specimens beneath one of the 

 Lucombe oaks at Kcav in the autumn of 1877, and they 



K 2 



