NOTES TOWAKDS A LIFE-HISTORY OF POLYOMMATUS DONZELII. 315 



that of the egg, I am indebted to Mr. J. W. Harrison, and may merely 

 state that my observation completely corroborates his remarks : — 



The egg. —It in general resembles that of Plebeius aegon, but is very 

 slightly less. It is of the usual Lycsenid shape, and is larger than most, 

 agreeing in this with all Lycaenids which hybernate in the Qgg state. 

 The outline is circular, not so much depressed as Afiriades bellan/us 

 at the top ; thickness = y% diameter. It is of a pure white colour, and 

 is intersected by two series of lines which are very much less regular 

 than most Lycaenids I have seen. These lines near the centre, are of 

 uniform height, but, as they leave the fourth or fifth row of cells from 

 the micropylar area, rise and thicken at the points of intersection, 

 giving rise to prominent white rounded knobs. The intersection of 

 these lines form a series of quadrilaterals and polygons. So irregular 

 are the intersecting lines, that perhaps it would be better to take 

 the markings as a series of (in nearly all cases) pentagons or hexagons 

 formed round one of the knobs, and joined at the angle to this knob 

 by the white lines (see margin). The micropyle appears darker, 

 and we have 21 small cells of equal size forming the micropylar area. 

 The mesh near the micropyle is finer, and no knobs occur for about 

 five rows of cells. Passing from the micropyle, the mesh very gradually 

 increases. The micropyle itself is situated at the very centre of the 

 depression. The young larva emerges at a point slightly to the side of 

 the micropylar area, eating a jagged hole in the shell sufficient to force 

 its way through, but leaving it otherwise untouched. 



Larva. — First instar : Length on emerging about l-2mm. Larvae 

 fairly typical Lyc^enid, of a dull whitish-grey, the skin being thickly 

 covered with very minute spicules. The subspiracular flange is well- 

 developed, and has the appearance of encircling the body, crossing the 

 9th abdominal segment immediately posterior to the anal plate, and 

 the prothoracic on its anterior margin. The marginal flange is 

 entirely ventral, but quite distinct. The segments are of practically 

 uniform size, the pro- and mesothoracic and the 9th abdominal being 

 slightly larger, and the 7th and 8th abdominals rather smaller than 

 the normal. In the early portion of this stage the mesothoracic 

 segment is subdivided into two equal subsegments (a division which 

 later is not so marked), the dividing line descending laterally about 

 half the distance to the subspiracular flange. Dorsally, each segment, 

 with the exception of the prothoracic and the two final abdominal 

 segments, is slightly raised towards the posterior margin, forming a 

 series of ridges, on which tubercles i and ii are situated. These, as 

 well as the other primary tubercles, are cone-shaped, the apex being 

 polished black, and bearing a long, white, spiculated hair. Besides 

 these tubercles, large round lenticles occupy certain areas of the body. 

 Each of these consists of a circular black ring with white centre, which, 

 under a higher power lens, appears pitted with black spots. The head, 

 which can be withdrawn, is small and black, as are also the true legs 

 and the hooks on the prolegs. The spiracles are of about equal size, 

 and black, being slightly raised above the general surface of the body. 

 Those on the abdominal segments are situated just above the flange 

 in the central portion of the segment, the prothoracic spiracle is much 

 lower, and quite on the posterior margin of the segment. The typical 

 arrangement of the primary tubercles, as seen on the 3rd-5th abdominal 

 segments, is as follows : — In the trapezoidal region are two tubercles. 



