Insects. 7255 



years has led to the conclusion that they differ as follows: — The larva of M. rivata, as 

 might be expected from the relative size of the two perfect insects, is invariably llie 

 larger ; it is also more delicately tinted, and has the lines better defined ; its dorsal 

 arrow-heads moreover are but four in number, being placed on the divisions between 

 segments 5 and 9; the seeming arrow-head between segments 4 and 5 on examina- 

 tion with a lens shows no white, and barely an interruption of the dorsal line ; and the 

 dorsal line which recommences between segments 9 and 10 is not preceded by any clear 

 white: in M. subtristata the whole back is generally more clouded, the subdorsal lines 

 which form the boundaries of the white arrow-heads not being defined ; the arrow- 

 head mark between segments 4 and 5, in M. subtristata, when examined with a lens, 

 becomes quite distinct, and though not so perfectly formed as the four others that fol- 

 low it, is yet quite plain and complete ; between segments 9 and 10 also there is a 

 well-defined half arrow-head, the hinder part of which runs into the lines on the hind 

 segments, the entire number of arrow-heads being thus five and a half instead of only 

 four. The diflBculty of obtaining both species in the same stage, at the same time, no 

 doubt renders this comparison less perfect than it might be could they be placed side 

 by side ; but the first or June brood of larvae of M. subtristata are all gone down 

 before the single brood of M. rivata have assumed the characteristic markings ; and 

 these again are gone down before the August and September larvae of M. subtristata 

 are available for comparison. It is well to mention that among some hundreds of 

 the perfect insects of both species, which have been bred by four or five different ento- 

 mologists during the last three years, there have occurred no intermediate varieties 

 whatever: M. rivata varies indeed in having the gray border of the hind margin of its 

 wings sometimes tinged with blue, sometimes with brown, but the while lines always 

 preserve their distinctive width, and the under side is always lighter than in M. sub- 

 tristata : of M. subtristata the only variety that has been observed was one which, far 

 from having the white lines broader than usual, had the dark bands wider : of course 

 worn specimens, which, having lost many of their scales, approach M. rivata in pale- 

 ness, are not worthy of notice." — Edward Newman. 



Description of the Larva of Melanippe montanata. — Nearly uniformly cylindrical ; 

 rests in a nearly straight position, but tucks the bead in very tightly when disturbed, 

 the anterior part of the body then assuming the form of the Ionic volute. Head pale 

 brown, with numerous black lines : body pale brown, with a number of variously 

 coloured markings ; there is a narrow median stripe transversing all the segments ex- 

 cept the 1st and 13th ; the median stripe is particoloured ; it is blood-red at the inter- 

 stices between each two segments beginning from the 4th, and the blood-red portion 

 is always succeeded by a jet-black portion, and the other parts are smoke-coloured; 

 the sides have two approximate, rich brown, rivulet stripes, both edges of which are 

 delicately margined with black; these stripes extend from the head to the 13th seg- 

 ment ; below these is a paler stripe, and the belly is also pale, but of a different hue ; 

 between the median stripe and the two approximate lateral stripes is a pale brown 

 broader stripe, interrupted with various black markings : on the back of the 7th, 8th 

 and 9th segments is a conspicuous black V-shaped mark, the apex of the V pointing 

 towards the tail, and each terminating in one of the blood-red marks already de- 

 scribed ; these three Vs are very large, obscuring, on the three segments where they 

 occur, the stripes previously described, and below them are five black dots on each side 

 of the median stripe. The egg is laid in the autumn, on the leaves of Primula vulgaris 

 (primrose), on which this larva hybernales, and is full fed at the end of March : this is 



