246 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



flat, with a somewhat irregularly formed micropyle, which is 

 darker, and without the frosted appearance which covers the 

 whole of the surface excepting the base ; the reticulations on the 

 depressed portion of the crown are simple, being without the 

 raised knobs at the junctures ; those surrounding the side are 

 prominent, but diminish on nearing the base ; the cells between 

 the reticulations have a fine granular surface. 



All the eggs hatched on July 30th, remaining six days in 

 the egg-state. The larva makes its exit by eating the crown, as 

 well as a portion of the side of the egg-shell. 



Directly after emergence the larva is exceedingly small, being 

 only 4\j in. long ; it is similar to other young Lyc^enidae larvae in 

 having a slight medio-dorsal furrow and sloping sides, and fur- 

 nished with rows of long white serrated hairs, four dorsal and 

 three lateral on each segment ; those on the dorsal surface are 

 in pairs on each side of the furrow, both curve backwards, the 

 anterior one being very long ; below these are two spiracular-like 

 disks outlined with dark olive, and below a pair of small dark 

 tubercles bearing a club-shaped hair, excepting on the 6th, 7th, 

 and 8th segments, which only have hairs on the posterior ones ; 

 the subspiracular row of hairs consist of three long ones on each 

 segment, projecting laterally, each having a dark base ; along 

 the ventral surface are similar serrated hairs, and shorter ones 

 on the claspers ; the head is greenish olive and black, and the 

 body of a pale ochreous yellow in shadow, and pale grey in high 

 light ; to the naked eye it appears wholly whitish ; the entire 

 surface is sprinkled with black points. They are very active 

 when first hatched, crawling rapidly for such small creatures, and 

 feed on various parts of the plant. I found one feeding with its 

 anterior half buried into the end of a stem which had been 

 cut off. 



First moult, Aug. 3rd, the first stage only lasting four days. 

 Shortly before first moult it measures only j^^ in. long. 



During the early stages these larvae, like the other Lycaenidae, 

 require the greatest attention to distinguish their changes, on 

 account of their very small size and similarity of stages, and 

 unless most carefully watched under a lens it is practically im- 

 possible to detect their moults. 



After first moult — six days old— it measures y\ in. long, the 

 body is considerably humped dorsally from the 2nd to 9th seg- 

 ments, the 1st, 10th, 11th, and 12th being rather compressed, 

 and a decided lateral ridge ; the surface is finely granulated, and 

 studded all over with serrated hairs of various lengths ; those 

 along the dorsal and lateral regions are longest and curved ; all 

 are whitish (excepting those on the subdorsal surface, which are 

 dusky), with bulbous bases, from which rise thorn-like spikes, 

 each base forming a star ; there are also numerous disks scat- 

 tered over the body. The general colour is a pale yellow, with 



