1898.] 77 



for the imago is rarely seen in its natural state, and then only by the 

 light of the lantern, when the ? is depositing her eggs). Bv^en under 

 these favourable conditions for observation I have, however, not 

 noticed the habit above referred to. 



In the following notes I must hope for the indulgence of your 

 readers, should I be merely a purveyor of stale news, indulgence 

 towards an old collector who, in his mature years, is beginning again 

 ostensibly "just to start the boy in the right way." 



The egg of C. sagittata has a veiy close resemblance to tlie stamens of T. 

 flavum, on which it is often deposited, both in shape and in its bright yellow colour. 

 The young larva, when first hatched, is of the same colour, still in imitation of the 

 stamens among which it conceals itself while feeding on the flower-parts. As it 

 increases in size it turns to a light brown, the stamens having by this time fulfilled 

 their office and faded to the same colour. Here, again, the resemblance is main- 

 tained. Later still, when the seeds are formed, the larva feeds on them, and as each 

 seed is cleaned out or partially eaten it becomes brown, giving the panicle a 

 variegated appearance of yellow-green and brown. The larva has now acquired its 

 well-known rich banded colouring of brown and shades of green, imitating respectively 

 the empty brown seed-husks and the untouched green seeds of the food-plant. So 

 close is this imitation that it requires a quick eye to detect the larva, sitting as it 

 nearly invariably does, in a curved position in the panicle. 



As far as I have observed the seeds form the most usual food of 

 C. sagittata in a state of nature, and the larva only touches the leaves 

 when compelled to do so from lack of its proper food, and possibly 

 when on its way down the stem when descending for pupation. 



Eeturning for a moment to the question of colour, I have been 

 puzzled by the occurrence in some seasons of a type of larva, in which 

 the brown tones become a rich purple and the green a deep shade of 

 apple-green. It may possibly be, however, that this is a reversion, 

 caused by seasonal influence, to an earlier form which had for its 

 food-plant one of the more richly-coloured species of Thalictrum such 

 as T. aquilegifolium. 



I hope this season to make more accurate notes on this subject, 

 and if I find I am wrong, to cry peccavi with Ihe best grace I have at 

 command. 



The Priory, Chatteris : 



February ISth, 1898. 



P.S. — After writing the above it occurred to me, before sending 

 it to you to send it to my uncle, Mr. Alfred Fryer, for his remarks, 

 and I think I cannot do better than send these in extenso, on the 

 principle that " every poison has its antidote." — H. P. F. 



