584 Mr. F. P. Dodd on some Remarkable 
be gathered. Any larva placed in spirit, which is much 
better than formalin solution for this insect, loses all the 
blue colouring, but the reds and yellows remain. In care- 
fully rolling out one for blowing the blue liquid comes 
away without admixture as a rule, following this there is 
a little whitish grease and several clear jelly-like strings ; 
it is the least objectionable of numerous species of larvae 
which I have treated for blowing. 
Though keeping many second stage larvae of various 
sizes, some for three weeks, I have never yet seen one 
moult, nor have I ever observed one to give any indication 
of casting a skin, yet I have taken several from the nests, 
about one- -third grown, so exceedingly pale that I felt 
warranted in assuming that they had recently moulted. 
However, it is strange that I never witnessed any moulting 
change, though I lad many scores under observation at 
different periods. 
It will be seen how well the form of this caterpillar is 
adapted to its surroundings, its flatness enables it to exist 
in chambers where the roofs are low, for it has to get over 
5 
a grub to suck it, and the thin flanged sides can be turned 
up to admit of it negotiating the narrow shafts and galleries 
of the ant habitation ; some of these are extremely narrow, 
and in many nests a pea would not pass through the out- 
lets, so that few would believe that a full-grown larva 
could pass through. 
The caterpillar subsists in the second stage solely upon 
the ant grubs by sucking out their juices. “A grub is first 
felt or examined, then the very movable claws grasp it 
more firmly and the small head becomes quite still, and 
tremors pass through the caterpillar, ending in slight 
upward jerks of the terminal segments, soon it is seen 
that the poor grub is collapsing, then when its skin bas 
fallen in considerably it is abandoned and auother one 
sought out and tackled. I have witnessed three grubs dis- 
posed of in succession in a few minutes by a large larva. 
Reference has been made to the caterpillars raising 
their terminal segments, even the small ones from the 
cocoons doing so. This was quite sufficient to warrant 
investigation. Consequently at various times I have 
placed them with ants and grubs under glass, in order that 
they could be seen to advantage and without risk of 
disturbance. When the anal parts are protruded, an ant 
generally soon becomes aware of the fact, and will be 
