6 
form of a pit with raised edges and is overlapped by two 
small lobes. 
Moulting—The number of moults may vary from 
8to16. These as well as the intervals between them 
vary very considerably as will appear from Tables I and IT. 
At the time of moulting, the larva becomes very tense and 
increases in size. In one larva kept under observation a 
bubble of gas was seen to pass forwards and backwards 
along the alimentary canal much as in a spirit level. 
The passage outside of this was detected by means of a 
drop of water placed at the anus. The gas in the ali- 
mentary canal would help to swell the larva and rupture 
the old skin. The split takes place, as usual, along the 
upper side of the thoracic region. The larva remains more 
or less arched during the process and it retains its hold on 
the soil not so much by the legs as by the anterior and 
posterior ends which are pressed against the soil as the 
body is gradually drawn out from the old skin. 
The differences between the young and full grown 
larvee are very shght.. As the larvee grow their colour 
changes from white to shining creain colour and then 
to. dull brown. The skin also becomes thicker. In 
the older larvee the 
mouth parts are 
very strong and 
hard and the max- 
ille have an array 
of strong bristles 
which probably 
help in divesting 
the larval food of 
much of the en- 
cumbering earth 
particles. (Text 
Fig. 1.) The third 
segment of the 
antenna which was. 
like a flagellum be- 


diay eas 
comes a stump. 
TEXT FIG. 1. oS ll 
Mouth parts of the larva of G. hofmannseggi, £ he fu grown 
1. Lower lip. 2, Upper lip. 8. Mandible. 4, Maxilla, larva(Frontispiece 
5. Antenna. Figs. 2& 3)isabout 
~20 mm.or 10 times the size it had when it Hatehed: Save for 
these differences, the str uctural similarity between the 
voung and the old lar vee is extremely close. Larve appear 
