362 Dr. Wallace ou the Ouak-feeding 
opening, these also soon turn black. The feet are of a dirty pale 
straw colour. The bristles nearest the head are the longest, 
and are used by the larva for the very singular purpose of combing 
and arranging its hair after emerging from the egg; for while 
inside their hairs have been pressed, and even slightly fastened 
down by the moisture within, and, if not attended to after birth, 
would soon dry and remain attached to the skin, and perhaps cause 
the death of the larva; therefore one of the first efforts of the 
newly-born larva is to bend its head backwards over the body 
in a looped form, so that the anterior and posterior dorsal surfaces 
are in apposition, then by bending to and fro laterally, the bristles, 
especially the two anterior ones, act as combs to arrange the other 
hairs. 
About three or four days after birth, according to the amount of 
food taken, the larva has grown to be half an inch long ; the vivid 
primrose hue has been toned down with green, the tubercles are 
more plainly visible, of a yellow tint, in pairs, six on each seg- 
ment, situate midway between the black lines; the lower dorsal 
line is now observed to begin at the fourth segment, and is re- 
placed on the second and third segments by two black dots; the 
three blue-black spots on the dorsum, and the black dot or tu- 
bercle emitting bristles situate on each segment just above the 
feet, are more elevated. The prolegs are brown at the tip, black 
at the base, the claspers are dashed midway with a pale transverse 
streak of a brown colour; the white scales at the anus are now of 
a rich velvet black. 
It would be impossible to describe all the varieties of tint 
or ground colour found in the larva; suffice it to say, that I have 
described the larva as I have seen it, and that my description 
differs somewhat from the French, which also differ from the 
accounts of the Japanese larva. It is probable that variations of 
food, soil and climate produce corresponding variations in the 
hues of this lovely larva. Erratic for the first few days the 
young worm causes great apprehension in the mind of its owner, 
especially for the first time of cultivation, lest the food or locality 
be not suitable; nevertheless it will be seen that the leaves 
are slightly nibbled, that frass has been ejected, and that the 
larva is of a good colour, not dull or pinched, but if any thing 
somewhat larger than before; these considerations, and a know- 
ledge of its erratic habits, will re-assure the fortunate possessor 
that all is going on well. A similar restlessness has been observed 
in other larvae, chiefly of Bombyces, as, for instance, that of 
Orgyia antiqua. It would seem to be the result of a natural 
