THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 308 
Buckler and the Rev. J. Hellins (“Notes on the Earlier 
Stages of some Species of Lithoside”):—‘ On July 30th, 
1865, some eggs were received from Dr. Knaggs, and noted 
as globular, pearly in texture, and clear purplish brown in 
colour. ‘The larve hatched August 13th, but no note of them 
was taken, and they must soon have perished from want of 
proper food and treatment. However, there is no doubt that 
in their habitat they must hybernate when small, and feed up 
in early summer. On May 24th, 1867, after considerable 
search, a number were found, then approaching full growth, 
on the Sussex coast. The food is a blackish brown lichen, 
growing on stones above high-water mark, and in some cases 
mixed with a yellow lichen,—a fact of much interest when 
the colouring of the larva is considered. ‘The larva seems 
fond of sunshine, moving about in it slowly over the stones. 
When about to moult it protects itself by spinning overhead 
a number of silken threads, under cover of which it remains 
until the moult is completed. The moths were bred early in 
July.” Then follows a description of the full-fed larva.— 
Edward A. Fitch ; Maldon, Essex. 
Henry R. Jackson.— Distinction of the Lepidoplterous and 
Coleopterous Larve.—Will you kindly inform me of any 
characteristics by which I can always distinguish between 
the larve of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera ?—H. R. J. 
[The best distinction that I know of is that the larve of 
Lepidoptera always possess claspers on the under side of the 
abdomen, with strongly prehensile hooks. With these they 
clasp the twigs, and hold them steadily while they devour the 
leaves; and these organs serve also for progression, enabling 
them to ascend the trunk of trees with ease and rapidity. 
Some entomologists have called them feet or legs, often 
adding an explanatory prefix, as prolegs or fore legs, 
prehensile legs or abdominal legs. The larve of Coleoptera 
have no such organs. Then the larve of Lepidoptera have 
ten ocelli or simple eyes, five on each cheek: these are 
situated close to the mouth, five on each side, and give to 
the caterpillar the wondrous power of examining the structure 
of a leaf, and of thus acquiring information as to whether it is 
a suitable species on which to feed; these are truly micro- 
scopes of high power, and are brought systematically almost 
in contact with the leaf, as we use a pocket-lens of high 
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