THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 483 



Eulophus Gallarum is frequent in these two galls. — Francis 

 Walker. 



Ntimher of Claspers in young Noctiia Larv(B, — In No. 6Q 

 of the 'Entomologist's Monthly Magazine' (for January, 

 1869), Dr. F. B. White records some notes made by him on 

 various Scotch Lepidoptera. It is respecting the first note, 

 regarding the larva of C. exoleta, that I now write. Dr. 

 White remarks, that in rearing this larva from the e^g he was 

 surprised to find that, when first hatched, it only possessed 

 three pairs of prologs [I believe the writer rneant claspers], 

 the first two pairs being undeveloped. He also says that he 

 is not aware of any other Noctua larva having the same 

 peculiarity. On reading this note, some two years ago, I was 

 struck with an idea, which I have since devoted some time 

 to working out; and, feeling myself pretty certain as to the 

 facts of the case, I venture to give the results of my 

 experience. They are as follows: — most, if not all, of the 

 larvae of the Noctuae belonging to the section Genuinae have, 

 when first hatched, but three pairs of claspers, the first two 

 pairs being quite undeveloped ; they are gradually developed 

 as the larvae increase in size, and by the third moult they are 

 as large as the other pairs, and fit to be used in walking. 

 Consequently, when first hatched, the larvae are semi- 

 geometriform, and loop more or less when in motion. To 

 show that I have some grounds for the above opinion, I 

 annex a list of the Noctuae belonging to this section, which I 

 have reared, or attempted to rear, from the egg : — Leucanidae, 

 L. lithargyria; Apamidac, M. Brassicae and Persicariae ; 

 Caradrinidae, G. trilinea; Noctuidae, R. tenebrosa, N. festiva 

 and brunnea ; Orthosidae, T. gothica ; Hadenidae, E. lucipara, 

 H. Serena, A. nebulosa and H. Chenopodii ; Xylinidae, 

 X. lithorhiza (this larva is especially geometriform when 

 young, and has the habit of resting attached only by its 

 claspers, with its body held straight out from the surface on 

 which it is resting, after the manner of true Geometrae). 

 Heliothidae : — I have never yet had the pleasure of obtaining 

 eggs of any of this family ; but my kind friend, Mr. H. 

 Bartlett, of Brecknock Street, Camden Road, this year has 

 had eggs of H. dipsaceus, and this family proves an exception 

 to the rule, for the larvae were, he informs me, true Noctuae 

 throughout their lives, and never possessed less than the 



