282 THE entomologist's record. 



marking (fig. 7). The moth in fig. 9 appears to have the forewings 

 like c and the hindwings of b. A dark form is taken sparingly at 

 Grimsby. I saw one or two of the specimens some time ago, and as 

 far as I can remember they were something like fig. 9, but not quite 

 so dark. One or two of the same form have also been taken at 

 Market Rasen, but these again are not quite so dark as the Grimsby 

 ones, if I remember correctly. I do not know how far south they 

 occur. A few which I took at Gainsborough did not contain any 

 aberrations. 



On breeding Drepana harpagula. 



By G. C. GEIFFITHS, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



Opportunities for the study of the early stages of this local moth 

 fall to the lot of so few of our British entomologists that some notes 

 as to its habits may possibly be of interest. A captured female will 

 occasionally deposit a few eggs in confinement, laying them singly on 

 the edges of the lime leaves (Tilia par vi folia) just at the bottom points 

 of the serrations. The eggs are oval, and when first laid cream- 

 coloured, but after about forty-eight hours acquire a beautiful red 

 bloom upon the upper surface, so that they much resemble little white- 

 heart cherries. The whole duration of this e^g stage is usually about 

 eleven or twelve days, but two days before the emergence of the young 

 larva the egg deepens in colour to a dark purple-brown. 



The larva newly disclosed from the shell is a perfect little hook-tip 

 in appearance, of a dark red colour, and resting, when it does rest, 

 with its head and tail raised. But on the first two or three days of its 

 larval life occur the chief difficulties to be encountered by the ento- 

 mologist who Avould breed it. 



It is so restless that it wanders from its food continually, and un- 

 less closely watched and replaced as soon as possible upon the leaves 

 with a camel's-hair brush will speedily perish. It appears to prefer to 

 begin to feed either just on the tip of the leaf or on one of the curves 

 by the side of the leaf-stalk, but throughout its larval existence it is 

 always found on the upper surface of the leaves. At first it only 

 nibbles half through the substance of the lime-leaf, but after the first 

 skin-change begins to bite quite through, cutting a long narrow sinus 

 into the leaf. After overcoming its youthful restlessness and approving 

 of the food provided for it, which must be the small-leaved lime, not 

 T. enropaea, the larva of D. harpafjula is one of the most contented in 

 disposition. It practically never leaves its food-plant, and, indeed, 

 seems to prefer its leaves to be somewhat dry, l:)eing often found at 

 large on trees with stunted hard leaves, a character in which trees of 

 T. parrifolia difl'er considerably, probably owing to variation in soil 

 and situation. After the second skin-change the larva begins to assume 

 whitish marks upon the back ; later these become yellowish, until, in 

 the adult period of larval growth, the back is coated with rich deep 

 yellow, and the sides with purple brown, the whole forming a colour- 

 combination of great beauty, which is enhanced by the graceful contour 

 and pose of the larva. 



The term of larval life in captivity is usually about eight weeks, 

 but either this stage or that of the egg appears to be more prolonged 

 under natural conditions, as specimens bred from the egg are gener- 



