﻿1869.] 13 



to the above-named segments. Probably other species possess this character in 

 the male sex, and it might furnish a clue to a more natural grouping of the species. 

 Plusia Daubei, with which I am not personally acquainted, comes very near to 

 P. Ni according to Freyer's figure (N. Beit, iii, p. 90, Tab. 256, fig. 1) ; on the 

 anterior wings it shews the same markings of the sub-terminal line, but it wants 

 the lower oval part of the PJwsm-mark, and, on the other hand, has the peculiar 

 reniform stigma as in P. Gamma. Boisduval says of P. Daubei (Index p. 159), that 

 it is smaller than Ni ; but according to Preyer, it is almost larger than Gamma. 



Description of the larva of Aporophila australis. — On October 5th, 1867, Mr. 

 Thomas Terry, of Babbicombe, gave Mr. Hellins some eggs of this species, laid by a 

 oaptured $ about three weeks previously. 



On Oct. 16th larvae began hatching ; they fed on Poa annua and other smooth 

 grasses, and chickweed, and, being kept in a warm place (out of doors), did not 

 seem to hybernate, but fed slowly through the winter, and by the end of January, 

 1868, were half-an-inch in length : from this time they fed and grew more rapidly 

 till April, and all of them had gone to earth by the middle of that month. The 

 moths appeared September 22nd to October 10th. 



The egg is full and round in shape, with about 20 ribs, of which a third meet 

 at the top, and the rest stop short in the angles formed by their junction, all con- 

 nected by transverse reticulations ; the ground-colour pale yellow, but splashed 

 with purplish-pink. 



The larvaa, when hatched, are greenish, with a blackish tinge on the back of 

 the front segments, the head brown, the under-side paler than the back, the usual 

 dots distinct, each furnished with a stiff bristle. 



After a moult they become smooth, of a full green colour, with a darker dorsal 

 line and a whitish sub-spiracular stripe, the folds showing yellow, and so they 

 continue to near half-an-inch in length. 



When this size has been attained varieties begin to develope themselves, some 

 remaining wholly green with double purplish-red dorsal lines, while in others the 

 sub-spiracular stripe becomes edged above with a spiracular line of purplish-pink. 



At the next change the dorsal purplish-red lines open on the centre of each 

 segment, disclosing a pale pinkish diamond, and the sub-dorsal faintly appears now 

 as a fine double pinkish line. 



The next moult produces a further development quite characteristic of the 

 adult ; the larva is now an inch long ; in some the green of the back is of a yellower 

 tint, and the sides a bright rose-pink ; in others a brilliant grass-green, and sides 

 purplish-pink ; at this stage the dorsal line is flesh colour edged with pink or red, 

 and on the front of each segment is a pair of short black marks placed obliquely, 

 so that but for the dorsal line they would form a A with its apex pointing forwards : 

 the sub -dorsal line is also marked with black at beginning of each segment ; the 

 sub-spiracular stripe yellowish. 



The full-grown larva is one of the handsomest and most gaily coloured of the 

 Noctum, is one inch five-eighths in length, rather stout and cylindrical, slightly 

 tapered towards the anal tip. 



The ground colour is now a very brilliant yellow-green, or in some individuals 

 greenish-yellow j the head green freckled with reddish, a red, unpolished semi- 



