7570 Insects. 



to be composed of a series of shuttle-shaped markings placed end to end ; the next 

 stripe on each side is bordered on its upper or dorsal margin with velvety black, massed 

 on each segment into a conspicuous blotch ; the lower margin is also bordered, hut less 

 conspicuously, with black ; the lateral stripe is broader and more diffuse, as well as less 

 conspicuous, than the others ; it encloses the spiracles, which are ranged just within 

 its upper margin, excepting the last and last but one, which are placed above the 

 stripe : by these five stripes the dorsal surface of the body is divided into four nearly 

 equal compartments, all of which are alike in ground colour, whatever its tint, and 

 are delicately mottled with velvety black ; the under surface bordering the lateral stripe 

 partakes of the same colour, but the belly, as well as the legs and claspers, are paler, 

 having a semi-transparent appearance. Feeds on Calluua vulgaris (the common ling) 

 principally at night, when it is swept off the ling in early spring by collectors who are 

 acquainted with its habits ; it is full fed about the end of May. The perfect insect 

 appears in autumn, as soon as the food-plant is in full flower, more especially selecting 

 such plants as grow beneath the shelter of trees. Mr. Morris informs me that he finds 

 it at Wickham, under the shelter of fir trees. — Edward Newman. 



Description of the Larva of Agrotis porphyrea. — Uniformly cylindrical. Head very 

 shining, pale brown : body umber-brown, paler between the segments: on the back 

 are three series of linear clearly defined whitish marks placed end to end ; the first 

 series is median, and extends from the 3rd to the 10th segment, both inclusive, con- 

 sisting therefore of nine spots ; the first of these, that on the 3rd segment, is circular, 

 that on the 4th oval, the rest linear ; on each side of this series is a lateral series of 

 similar whitish linear spots, and these commence on the 5th segment, and extend to 

 the 13th ; below these lateral series of whitish spots there is a whitish stripe which 

 includes the spiracles, which are black ; legs very shining, pale brown, spotted with 

 black : claspers pale. Feeds on Calluna vulgaris (the common ling), only in the night. 

 The eggs are laid and hatched in the autumn, and the larva hybernates : in April it 

 begins to feed again and is full-fed in May; it then spins a slight cocoon ^on the sur- 

 face of the ground, and therein changes to a pupa. The perfect insect appears about 

 midsummer. — Id. 



Description of the Larva of Agrotis lucernea, — Rolls in a ring when touched 

 feigning death and falling off its food-plant. In shape almost uniformly cylindrical : 

 surface smooth, velvety : head shining, the triangular plate intensely black ; the hemi- 

 spheres mottled with black and gray-brown : the colour of the body is a mottled mix- 

 ture of gray-brown and black-brown, the darker colour assuming somewhat the form 

 of a double series of V-shaped markings along the back, the apices of the Vs directed 

 towards the head ; the space within each V only a shade paler than the V itself, but 

 terminating at its point in a very decided pale spot, which has a black dot in the 

 middle, the dot emitting a black bristle: the legs black and shining; the claspers 

 pale ; the spiracles almost white, but surrounded by a black space. In confinement 

 these larvae, for which and those of the species which immediately follows I am 

 indebted to Mr. Greening, of Warrington, fed voraciously by night on the leaves of 

 Campanula rotundifolia (common harebell), but concealed themselves in peat earth 

 by day : they were full fed and finally buried themselves on the 1st of May. — Id. 



Description of the Larva of Agrotis Ashwnrthii. — Rolls in a compact ring, feigning 

 death and falling off its food-plant when touched. In shape almost uniformly cylin- 

 drical, quite smooth and velvety: head bright red and shining: body uniformly 

 coloured ; generally smoky green ; in some specimens olive-green, in others smoke- 



