procession of Gnethocampa pinivora. 581 



occurs when they are in procession, so the animals are very soon 

 in a tangle of silk. Edwards is inclined to think that the threads 

 secreted in the mass may be a help towards a procession when 

 reformed keeping the same leader. In five different processions, 

 the largest of which consisted of 57 larvae, he found that the new 

 procession had the same leader as the old one. 



I endeavoured to obtain light on the matter by observing 

 short processions, distinguishing the individual larvae by powdered 

 chalk of different colours, which, like the flour used by Edwards, 

 adheres well to their hirsute dorsal surface. If only a small number 

 of larvae are observed it is quite possible to preserve their identity 

 by this method ; with large numbers a colour scheme naturally 

 breaks down. It is believed that the observations set forth below 

 were accurate ; others which appeared faulty from one cause and 

 another are omitted. The times at which changes occurred are 

 given to convey an idea of the rapidity with which the larvae 

 alter their procedure. The numbers indicate individual larvae, 

 1, 2, 3, etc., being allotted according to their order in the first 

 procession of one continuous observation. ... indicates that two 

 larvae were not quite in contact. Each observation commenced 

 by placing the larvae in a heap on sand with little or no 

 vegetation. 



I. Batch A. 5 larvae. April 2nd. 



5.0 p.m. larvae put in heap. 



5.5 p.m. procession 12345. 



5.15 p.m. larvae again put in heap. 



5.22 p.m. procession 1352... 4. 



5.25 p.m. larvae again put in heap. 



5.30 p.m. procession 253... 4... 1. 



II. Batch A. 5 larvae. April 3rd. 



10.40 a.m. larvae put in heap. 



11.0 a.m. procession 12345. 



11.10 a.m. larvae again put in heap. 



11.15 a.m. procession 35142. 



11.28 a.m. larvae again put in heap. 



11.30 a.m. procession 32145. 



11.34 a.m. procession 321405, being a larva belonging 



to another batch which had buried itself 

 shortly before and had just been dug up 

 a few inches away from the procession, 

 which it joined voluntarily in the position 

 shown. 



11.35 a.m. larvae again put in heap. 

 11.45 a.m. procession 462513. 

 11.50 a.m. larvae again put in heap. 



11.59 a.m. procession 4235 (0 and 1 bad strayed away). 



38—2 



