but in this respect they were at a disadvantage as compared with 

 their wild brethren on the banks by the sea, for frequently when 

 Eastbourne recorded several hours' sunshine it was of too feeble a 

 nature in London to affect the recorder; and this fact will have to be 

 taken into account later on when we come to compare dates between 

 the broods reared in captivity and those that had lived under natural 

 conditions. But when the sun did shine upon them, even in the 

 depth of winter, it was curious to see these little thread-like larvae 

 holding on to the grass stems and curling themselves about in the 

 most fantastic manner, evidently enjoying the sun's warmth to 

 the full. 



About the middle of March, finding that the larvae of some other 

 species of Acidalia were feeding occasionally on the fresh food that 

 had been given them, and as the margifupuiictafa appeared to be 

 going through their antics somewhat more violently in the now 

 strengthening sunshine, I supplied them also with such food as was 

 obtainable that I thought might tempt their appetite, but was unable 

 to discover that they touched it. 



On March 31st twelve larvae were removed into a separate bottle, 

 supplied with tender food, kept in a warm room by night, and stood 

 in the sunshine by day whenever opportunity offered. They fed very 

 little, if at all, at first ; but towards the end of April some of them 

 began to grow rapidly, and on May 21st one of them spun its cocoon, 

 another at that date being apparently on the point of doing so, and 

 ultimately four in all pupated ; but two moths, which emerged on 

 June 2 1 St and July 9th respectively, were, I believe, the only two 

 reared from this lot. 



The remaining larvae were divided into two lots of about equal 

 numbers on April 28th, one portion being put into a flowerpot half 

 filled with silver sand, and a piece of muslin tied over the top, the 

 food, viz. yarrow {Achillea mi/Iefo/iiini) and tormentilla {Potefiti/la 

 reptafis), being kept fresh by its stalks being put in a bottle of water 

 buried in the sand, and young seedling knotgrass was frequently 

 sprinkled upon it also, and the pot was placed so that the sun's rays 

 shone through the muslin directly into it. The other portion was 

 kept in a large glass jar and supplied with similar food. This jar 

 was also kept in the sunshine, but as I deemed it advisable not to 

 let the rays shine directly on the glass it was shaded by a musHn 

 screen. For some time after this I could find no signs to indicate 

 that either lot of larvae was feeding, neither did the food appear to 

 be eaten, nor did the larvae increase in size ; but about the middle of 

 May it was evident that hybernation had ceased, and some of each 

 lot were increasing in size. Of the two lots those in the flowerpot 

 were doing the better, and on June 2nd those in the jar were shifted 

 into a flowerpot also. From this time they fed up rapidly ; at first 

 tormentilla appeared to be their favourite food, but later yarrow was 

 taken much more freely, while the knotgrass, on which, be it noted, 

 they had entirely lived before hybernation, was completely neglected. 



