40 THE entomologist's recoed. 



Explanation of Plate I. 

 Fig. 1. — Trichopiihisi lohidaclyhi, lateral view of abdominal segment of larva. 



Fig. 2.—Alucita litlioditcti/la „ ,, ,, 



Fig. 3. — Pterojihonia helUcoliU. ,, ,, „ 



Fig. 4. — Platyptilia rliododaciijla „ ,, ,, 



Fig. 5. — Mnrasmarcha viicrodactyla „ „ ,, 



Fig. 6. — Orneodes hexadactyla „ „ ,, 



Observations on the genus Catocala: C. promissa, &c. 



By E. M. DADD. 

 (^Concluded from p. 13 .) 



C. jiriDiiissa. — Ova rather irregular, oval, rather more depressed 

 than usual, micropyle very small, composed of only one or sometimes 

 two rows of cells, a lateral rib running immediately round the micro- 

 pylar area and another larger one outside this, to which are joined the 

 vertical ribs. The latter are very coarse and irregular, and are crossed 

 by one or two, similarly irregular, lateral ribs, the whole forming a 

 coarse network. The vertical ribs number about 18. The surface 

 between these ribs is granular and apparently pitted, these pits swell 

 out as the larva matures. The egg measures •05in.-'0525in., and is 

 considerably larger than that of any of the others. 



The larvae emerged at the commencement of April, and fed on oak- 

 buds. The head and body are black, the segmental divisions of the 

 first, second, third, and fourth abdominal segments being pale bluish- 

 green. The prologs are, as usual, only developed on the fifth, sixth, and 

 last abdominals. The larvae measure about •25in. One larva moulted 

 for the first time on April ICth. It then measured -Sin. The head is 

 dull black, somewhat broader than the remainder of the body. The 

 ground colour is soft grey, someAvhat lighter between the segments. 

 The four transverse rings are very much reduced, and are entirely effaced 

 on the back. There are numerous fine dark lateral lines running the 

 whole length of the larva. The tubercles are black and prominent, 

 those on the eighth abdominal are very much enlarged, forming a ridge 

 pointing backwards. Beneath, it is pearly grey, wdth a purple-brown 

 spot on each segment. In the third instar it measures from "TSin.-lin., 

 is smoky-grey, with a white horseshoe mark on the first abdominal, 

 the points tot\'ards the anus. The tubercles are not so large as in the 

 former instar, the hump slightly developed on the fifth abdominal. 

 The fourth instar much resembles the last. The head is bilobed, 

 deeply notched between the lobes, black with white markings. There 

 is a white band on the fourth abdominal in addition to the white horse- 

 shoe.mark on the first. The hump on the fifth abdominal is now well- 

 developed and smoky-black in colour, this colour forming a band across 

 the segment and ending between the prolegs of the fifth and sixth 

 abdominals. The sixth abdominal has a pale transverse ring, w^hich, 

 with the white band on the fourth, serves to emphasise the black ring- 

 on the fifth. The prolegs are now all fully developed, but vary in 

 size, the third and fourth abdominal prolegs being smaller than the 

 fifth and sixth, the fifth being the largest. The tubercles are now 

 yellow-brown, the laterals very small. The lateral fringe is partially 

 developed. In the last instar the larva measures quite two inches. 

 The head is pale yellow-brown, with paler blotches on the lobes and a 



i 



