71 



axes directed in the line of their arrangement. These were 

 observed towards the end of August. 



Sinerinthi(s(Aninrpha) popiili la;js a large pale green ovum, usually 

 singly and on the underside of a leaf of poplar between the ribs^ 

 but it is far from unusual to find two, or even three, on the same 

 leaf or on the upperside of the leaf. The time to look for them is 

 May to July, and in shape they are oval and rather flattened on the 

 top. Dimensions are, length 2-lmm., maximum width l-6mm.,. 

 and height l-4mm. The surface of the shell is shiny and nearly 

 smooth. 



In searching for these eggs I have alwavs found that very young 

 poplars were the most productive, but possibly this is owing to their 

 being more easy to work. I have taken over 50 eggs in less than 

 an hour from a row of about 25 trees planted the year before, which 

 could easily be bent down for closer examination of the leaves. 



Sphinx lifjustri ova I have found very occasionally on the under- 

 side of the leaves near the tip of the shoots of privet, laid singly. 

 They are oval in shape, emerald green in colour, and seem to 

 become rather colourless towards each end as they mature. The 

 shell is nearly smooth and shiny, and the dimensions noted were, 

 length l-9mm., width l-6mm.,and height l-4mm. All I have seen 

 were observed in the month of Jul}'. 



MacnHihma stellatanim : I have only once found these ova in the 

 wild, and unfortunately they hatched before I got home, so that I 

 am unable to give any detailed description or measurements as yet ; 

 but I observed the process of egg-laying, which was as follows: — On 

 July 7th, when on holiday at Dunwich, I noticed a moth flying over 

 Galium venuii. 8he settled momentarily on a flowerhead with 

 wings rapidly vibrating, and after curving her abdomen downward 

 beneath her, darted ofl" again almost instantly, flew round in a wide 

 circuit, and returned to repeat the performance at another flower 

 near. This she did five times in half-a-minute, almost at my feet, 

 and each time I stooped and picked the flower the instant she left 

 it. On examination I found a single globular pale green egg laid 

 on the stalk below one of the florets, and most difficult to detect on 

 account of its close resemblance to the unopened buds. These 

 hatched indoors in a week, and the larvte had fed up and gone down 

 for pupation by August 9th. 



Cerura bifida. — Ova laid singly on leaves of poplar and aspen in 

 June and July. They are hemispherical in shape, and rest on a 

 nearly flat base, being firmly cemented to the leaf. Colour brownish 



