284 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



have no definite observation recorded. By August 26th, 1907, two of 

 the larvae, respectively 23mm. and 8*4mm. long, appear to be in the 

 second and third instars, the former just about to moult, the latter 

 having already moulted ; they differ in size, and in the relative 

 sizes and closeness of the black spots, suggesting that one is an instar 

 beyond the other. They are alike in being studies in black and white ; 

 the ground colour is not quite white, but faintly fuscous-creamy,, 

 yet white enough to make the black dots contrast very markedly ; 

 these dots are the hair-bases and lenticles, and also the spiracles ; 

 these are all much the same in size, although the spiracles are really a 

 little larger, but have the same effect on the eye, because they are thin 

 circles with a colourless lumen. The two larvae are to be observed on a 

 head of red clover, on which five or six newly-hatched larvae were placed, 

 and on which, a few days ago, no larvae could be detected, but which 

 now exhibits these, probably as the sole survivors ; the younger one, 

 now about to moult, is seated on the outside of a calyx, than which it 

 is a little shorter. The flowers show by holes in the calyces and 

 ovaries, that the larvae burrowed in at least several flowers in this way, 

 the desired morsels being the ovules. When unseen, the small larvae 

 may have escaped observation from their small size and want of colour, 

 but more probably were partially or wholly buried in the calyces. 

 After the second moult the larvae enter hybernation. On February 

 2nd, 1908, one larva, that had been out of doors on a plant of 

 Trifolium pratensis all the winter, was noted as rather over 4mm. long, 

 of a pale green colour, with the dotting of the black hair-bases very 

 conspicuous ; it was amongst some dead leaves, but when put on the 

 plant soon buried itself among the stipules of the young shoots now 

 about an inch long. Two others in a tin box in the cellar, also 

 seem to be alive on this date, but are very quiescent ; they are rather 

 smaller than the other, broad, of a brownish-terra-cotta colour, and 

 with conspicuous black hair-bases. One of these larvae died soon 

 afterwards, and, by the end of March, one of the others was detected 

 hiding in a sheathing-stipule of a clover plant on which they were, 

 with its head thrust down as far as possible between the stipule and 

 the stem ; it was pale cinereous, or nearly white, in colour, with the 

 hair-bases as black points. About April 4th, the same larva, apparently, 

 was noted, just above where it had been last seen, on the outside of a 

 young green stipule, which still enclosed the leading-bud ; in this it 

 was eating a hole, apparently to get at the younger tissues within; it 

 had some coloration and oblique stripes. On April 10th, on looking 

 for this larva, the second larva was discovered, precisely where the 

 other had been noticed some time back, deeply wedged into the angle 

 between the petiole and stipule and the stem, and pale as was the 

 other when first seen. A further search did not reveal the other larva, 

 till a leaf, unopened, but already on a tall stalk, showed evidence of 

 being eaten, as to one of its edges, and, on this, the other larva was 

 seen. It may be noted that a young leaf on this same branch, shows that 

 it must have been nibbled before it left the shelter of the bud, probably 

 by larva number one, some time before it was first noticed, and most 

 likely by reaching it through the stipular sheath, as already observed; 

 all three leaflets are injured, one having little left beyond the midrib, 

 but they were, from the recovery that has taken place, no doubt 

 comparatively minute when the damage was done. At the moment 



