Insects. 9747 



jellow, with a transverse band about the middle of each segment of a deeper colour, 

 almost orange; and on each side, alternating with these orange bands, which occupy 

 the verrucose portions of the surfdce already noticed, is a series of obscure and ill- 

 defined markings, almost while; there are also nine longitudinal black stripes 

 extending from the 3rd to the 12th segmeni, both inclusive; these stripes are inter- 

 rupted throughout by small circular yellowish dots, each of which has a minute central 

 black dot, emitting a white hair; of these nine stripes the mediodorsal is somewhat 

 the broadest and decidedly the most conspicuous; between the third and fourth lateral 

 stripes are the intensely black spiracles ; there is also a glabrous corneous black plate 

 occupying the anal flap; legs intensely black and shining, and having dull blackish 

 markings above their base; ventral claspers with a black shining exterior corneous 

 plate, and smoke-coloured markings on the outer surface ; anal claspers black and still 

 elevated when at rest; belly yellow, with two series of black blotches between the 

 fourth pair of ventral and the anal claspers. These larvae, having arrived at their full- 

 fed condition, descend the trunks or stems of the trees on which they have fed, and 

 crawl about the surface of the ground with great activity, often crossing dusty roads 

 and leaving long circuitous tracks in the dust; sometimes marching over flagged 

 pathways, and being consequently trodden under foot of man, by which casualty 

 hundreds come to an untimely end; those which escape nestle at the roots of herbage 

 or under fallen leaves, and change to pupje on the surface of the earth, without any 

 web, cocoon, or protection of any kind, and with so little attempt at concealment that 

 they are frequently seen by the passing entomologist, and are sometimes in such 

 abundance tliat boys collect them to sell to dealers in entomological specimens at a 

 penny or twopence a dozen : they also constitute a favourite food of poultry, and are 

 sought for with great eagerness; dame Partlet may often be seen scratching for them 

 in my own neighbourhood under the lindens. The pupa is regularly punctate, but 

 slightly shining; its colour is very dark brown; a deep dorsal notch divides the 12th 

 and I3th segments ; the latter terminates in two very singular processes, each of which 

 is furcate, the prongs divaricating and acutely pointed. — Edward Newman. 



Life-History of Hadena reclilinea. — The egg is laid in June on the leaves of Salix 

 caprea (sallow), and the young larva emerges in July ; it feeds with great voracity, and 

 grows very rapidly, attaining its full size before it retires for the winter, which is usually 

 about the end of October, but sometimes earlier: in a state of nature they probably 

 hybernate on the surface of the ground, under the fallen leaves of the sallow ; but in 

 confinement they have a diversity of practice, sometimes concealing themselves in the 

 dibris, covering the earth in the breeding-cage, sometimes ascending the sides of the 

 cage aud adhering to the sides or top: they also differ in another respect, sometimes 

 covering themselves with a slight web, at other times being perfectly exposed: towards 

 the end of March they appear to become more lively, and crawl about the cage ; they 

 are, however, much reduced in size by the winter's abstinence; if supplied with twigs 

 of sallow they do not appear to eat the opening leaves, but prepare for pupation. The 

 larva now rests with its head frequently turned on one side until it touches the 9lh 

 segment; if annoyed, it falls to the ground rolled in a compact ring, feigning death, 

 and remains in that posture several minutes. Head semiporrect, subglobose, highly 

 glabrous, slightly narrower than the 2nd segment: body nearly uniformly cylindrical, 

 but slightly attenuated towards the anterior extremity ; the 12th segment is trans- 

 versely dorsally elevated, but not very conspicuously so ; the surface is velvety and 

 iridescent, the iridescence resulting from the light falling on the delicate soft short pile 



