EARLIER STAGES OF CATACLYSTA LEMNATA. O 



large oval convex scuta, with the hair central (about 0'04 mm. in 

 diameter) ; I is about half the length of II ; IV, V have a com- 

 mon scutum, posterior hair higher ; VI, single hair, and 3 at 

 base of proleg. On thorax 1 and 2, I, II, III and IV (?) have 

 each two hairs. 



In preparing a skin, the silk gland was broken against the 

 glass, and the contents almost immediately afterwards were 

 found to have glued the specimen to the glass, although under 

 water. 



June 27th. — Opened two cases; found the larvae of two dif- 

 ferent ages, one (in second skin ?) pale and distended, and nearly 

 as large as the other (in third skin), with larger head, looking 

 collapsed and nearly black ; when stretched out it was very 

 much paler ; length about 3 mm. 



July 2nd. — Two larvaB have gone much ahead of the others, 

 and are very large, possibly in last skin, certainly in penul- 

 timate. 



Left a number of larvre in a multitude of glasses on July 4th. 

 They were soon reported to be very voracious. Just before 

 JidU 12th and IStJi had fastened themselves to sides of glasses, 

 and were supposed to be pupating, but they cut themselves free, 

 and Avere therefore supposed to have been moulting ; they were 

 now in need of much fresh duckweed, as they were very 

 voracious. They then pupated without calling any special 

 attention to the procedure, and on July 22nd two moths emerged. 

 On the 25tii seven came out, and many had emerged since 22nd. 

 On 27th all appeared to have emerged. On Aug. 10th, however, 

 another appeared, and on 12th there were found to be still three 

 larvae feeding. Whether these were laggards, or intruders intro- 

 duced small with the relays of duckweed, must remain in doubt ; 

 one was preserved, one emerged (a male) Sept. 1st, and one was 

 then still feeding. This one was still alive in November, and 

 apparently hybernating. 



The cocoon is of much denser (very white) silk than the 

 larva-case, though made within it (or of it), and on the emerg- 

 ence of the moth seems almost at once to lose its water-resisting 

 property. 



My larvae were clearly double-brooded, but, as they were kept 

 indoors, and in (comparatively) small glass vessels exposed to 

 the sun whenever it shone through the window, this part of my 

 experience cannot safely be extended as applying to the insect in 

 its native ponds. 



(To be continued.) 



