76 



visible through the shell as a dark spot, and the larval hairs as a 

 dark outer ring. Diameter 'SSmm., height -Gmm. 



Arctia caja : ova precisely similar to S. menfhastri in arrange- 

 ment and situation ; also similar in shape and colour. A batch 

 found on August 4th, under a leaf low down on apple, contained 

 114 ova, which were semi-transparent, whitish, and had smooth and 

 shiny shells, except under high magnification when fine reticula- 

 tions were visible. Diameter 1mm., height -Smm. 



Hipocrita jacohtru deposits in batches under the leaves of ragwort, 

 in a single layer, usually neatly arranged in rows side by side. 

 One batch, found June 12th, contained 71 ova, another, on June 

 18th, contained five only and was placed in a kind of natural 

 pocket near the mid-rib. They are pale yellow, smooth and shiny, 

 globular in shape, flattened at the base. Diameter ^mm., 

 height, -Smm. 



Triiplurna pronuba lays her ova in enormous batches (I have 

 counted over 1,000 in one batch) in all kinds of places. Probably 

 she prefers a thin dead stem, as I have had batches on a tendril of 

 passion flower, a grass stem, and the string of a tennis net, but 

 others have been on a stout sorrel stem, a twig of a dead conifer, 

 and the underside of a privet leaf. In the last-named instance the 

 ova were most beautifully arranged in rows as close together as 

 possible, only one layer deep, and almost entirely covered the leaf ; 

 but frequently the eggs are superimposed two and three deep in 

 parts of the batch. They are very small for so large a parent, 

 being but -Smm. in diameter, and -85 in height. When newly-laid 

 they are pearly-white, but soon turn pale grey, and become dark 

 purple brown before hatching. The shape may be taken as 

 typically noctuid, hemispherical, upright, and with bold vertical 

 ribs and horizontal rungs. Usually there are 36 ribs, of which 

 alternately two unite and proceed up to the edge of the micropyle, 

 and the third stops short, so that only twelve are carried over the 

 top of the egg ; but this number and arrangement varies consider- 

 ably in individuals. They are to be found any time during July 

 and August. 



Baratlira {Mciiiwstra) hrasaica: ova may be found in single layer 

 batches on almost any garden plant, usually under the leaves. I 

 have even seen a batch of 27 laid on a pea-pod ; and can always get 

 them in June by looking under the leaves of cabbages or cauliflowers. 

 The egg is upright, hemispherical, flattened at base, and yellowish 

 white in colour, developing a pale purple central blotch and outer 

 irregular ring as it matures, finally turning almost black, just 



