280 \ TMay, 
The larva is subject to a great range of variation in colour, but there is 
one variety which certainly outnumbers the rest, and may fairly be taken for the 
type; the description of the figure suits all varieties. 
The length, when full-grown, about three-quarters of an inch, the figure 
proportionately stout for an ordinary geometer, tapering towards the head, 
cylindrical behind and slightly flattened forward; head smaller than second seg- 
ment, with its lobes well defined. The ground colour greenish-grey, the head 
striped with the commencement of the dorsal and sub-dorsal lines ; the dorsal line 
dusky and slender, dividing the lobes of the head, and running thence continuously 
to the commencement of fifth segment; the sub-dorsal stripe begins also on the 
head, and is rather paler than the ground, but edged on either side with a fine 
dusky line; on the folds between segments 5—10 are five diamond-shaped 
marks, whitish, but bordered with dusky or blackish outlines, and with the dorsal 
line appearing in the centre of each as an elongated black spot ; the centre of the 
back, after the middle of segment 10, becomes much paler, with faint blackish 
As instead of diamonds, and the sub-dorsal lines grow indistinct; just above the 
spiracles is a dark line, continuous on segments 2—5, and 10—13, but showing 
only as five black dashes at the intermediate folds; the spiracles small and 
obscure, but ringed with black, and placed on ground slightly paler than the rest of 
the body; the tubercular dots are whitish-grey, the segmental folds show slightly 
reddish; the belly is pinkish-grey, paler down the middle, and with a central and 
two sub-spiracular fine dusky lines; the ventral legs have a dark streak, and the 
anal legs alight streak down them. 
Some varieties have the markings as above, but the ground colour all over 
pinkish-grey ; others have a grey ground, without any green or pink tinting in it. 
There is a very decided variety of a light yellowish-green colour, without much 
noticeable marking, though it is generally possible to trace the dorsal and sub- 
dorsal lines faintly, whilst the row of dark dashes above the spiracles show firm and 
distinct, being apparently the last to change or disappear of all the markings. 
In some broods occur varieties, having the greenish-grey ground colour, and 
the usual markings on the front and hind segments, but with the first half of the 
back of each diamond-bearing segment coloured soft, dull pink, so that from above 
the larva looks to be banded with green and pink; the diamonds pinkish-white ; 
the belly greenish. 
There is another variety with a purplish bloom laid over a dull green. 
Another has the greenish-grey ground, but with all the markings, diamonds, 
and lines, scarcely showing except just at the folds, where the dusky lines that 
form them turn red. 
Another has the ground on the back of a dull pinkish-brown, all the lines 
showing light red at the folds. Another again has the ground pale brown, the 
diamonds bordered by darker brown tinged with olive, the edgings of the sub-dorsal 
stripe distinct and wavy, and bearing some small black dashes on its under-side at 
the end of each segment; the black dashes above the spiracles very distinct ; the 
spiracles themselves black. 
As in the greenish varieties sometimes, so also with the brown ones, there are 
individuals which show a purplish bloom. 
In some of the paler greenish and ochreous varieties, the back of the hinder 
segments bears, instead of As, some pairs of indistinct freckled lines, arranged 
almost in the form of stunted crosses. 
