316 Mr. C. Pvishycombe on the 
Phyllobius or Polydrusus, with which it frequently occurs, 
but from the latter it can at once be distinguished by the 
possession of three pairs of legs which stand stiffly out on 
each side of the thorax. On the head are a pair of simple 
eyes situated laterally but rather near the jaws. In front 
of the eyes are the antennae, each of which is two-jointed, 
the basal joint being short and situated in a small pit. 
The second joint is longer and bears a single bristle. The 
mandibles are fitted for biting and are toothed internally. 
From the centre of the labium between the two palpi 
arises a small pointed organ which appears to serve as a 
spinneret, similar to that found in lepidopterous larvae. 
It is connected with glands in the thorax and fore part of 
the abdomen. 
Fia. 3. Boreus hyemalis, larva full fed. 
The thorax is the broadest part of the larva and bears 
the very curious and conspicuous legs. Each leg has a 
broad basal segment. The second joint is longer, and 
the third rod-shaped and cylindrical, not pointed. The 
abdomen, which is somewhat narrower than the thorax, is 
cylindrical, curved, and bears a few small bristles on each 
segment. 
Larvae may be found by breaking up moss at any time 
during the spring and summer, mosses in which I have 
found them being Mniwm hornum, Dicranella heteromalla 
and Bryuwm atropurpureum, but principally the first. The 
larvae are very sluggish and move little on being disclosed. 
As pupation approaches the larva makes a vertical tube 
leading almost to the surface, and it is presumably at this 
period that the fine silk thread is spun which sometimes 
