LASIOCAMPA QUERCUS. 73 



%. van callunae, Palmer, " Zool.," v., p. 1656 (1847); Weaver, " Zool.," xi., 

 p. 4066 (1853) ; xv., p. 5403 (1857); Harding, " Zool.," xvi., p. 5925(1858); Gn., 

 "Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr." (3), vi., p. 442, pi. x., fig. 3 (1858); (4), viii., p. 410 (1868) ; 

 Edl., "Ent. W. Int.," vii.. p. 93 (1859), "Zool.," xviii., p. 6815 (i860); Shipston, 

 "Ent. W. Int.," ix., p. 68 (i860); " Zool.," xix., p, 7359 (186 1) ; Parke, "Zool.," 

 xxi., p. 8647 (1863^; Newm., "Ent.," ii., p. 137 (1865); iii., p. 27 (1866); SnelL, 

 "De Vlind.," p. 186 (1867); Staud., "Cat.," 2nd ed., p. 69 (1871) ; 3rd ed., 

 p. 120 (1901) ; Lampa, "Ent. Tids.," vi., p. 41 (1885) ; Ellis, "Nat.," 1886, p. 108 

 (1886); Hinchliff, "Ent.," xix., p. 272 (1886); Batt, "Ent.," xx., p. 109 (1887); 

 Hofm., " Gross -Schmett.," p. 53 (1887); BuckL, "Larvae," &c, iii., p. 58 

 (1889); Tutt, "Brit. Moths," p. 56 (1896); "Ent. Rec," viii., pp. 298—302 

 (1896); xiii., p. 113 (1901) ; Thomps., "Ent. Pec.," viii., pp. 125 et seq., 158 

 et seq., 315 et seq. (1896); Barr., " Lep. Brit.," p. 27 (1896); Hewett, "Ent. 

 Rec.," viii., pp. 209—210 (1896); Reutti, "Lep. Bad.," 2nd ed., p. 58 (1898). 

 Quercus, Linn., "Faun. Suec.," 2nd ed., no. 1106 (1 761) ; " Sys. Nat.," 

 xiith ed., pp. 814—5 (in part) (1767); [? Esper, "Schmett. Eur.," pi. xiv., 

 figs. 1 — 2(1793)]; Stephs., "111.," ii., p. 30 (1828) ; Zett., " Ins. Lapp.," p. 925 

 (1840) ; Sta.> "Zool.," iii., p. 1091(1845); iv., p. 1230(1846); Harding, "Zool.," 

 v., p. 1 73 1 (1847). — From repeated conversations which I have had with my 

 friend the well-known naturalist, Mr. Weaver, and from careful investigation of 

 all the facts and circumstances stated by him, little doubt exists in my 

 mind that, under the common designation of L. quercus, two perfectly distinct 

 species of British " Eggers " have been confounded by entomologists. I have 

 minutely examined through a powerful microscope the antennae of the common 

 species (quercus) , and those of that which Mr. Weaver is seeking to establish as 

 new, and can consequently vouch for the correctness of his observations respecting the 

 peculiarities of structure of that important organ, which tend so powerfully to 



corroborate his views The following is Mr. Weaver's statement : 



" Entomologising on Rannoch moors, in June, 1845, ^ nac ^ the good fortune to 

 capture ten specimens of this noble moth — eight males and two females — flying at 

 mid-day. Their flight is so high and so rapid that it is very difficult to capture 

 them. I took also, at the same date, in the dusk of the evening, a very fine 

 specimen of the female. In June, 1844, on Rannoch moors, I found a caterpillar 

 of which I had not before seen the like, and, therefore, it was the more interesting 

 to me. By diligently searching on a misty day over the moors, I found others 

 feeding on heath, which, in September, formed their cocoons. In June, 1845, I 

 found more on the heath, and these also changed to the chrysalis state in Sep- 

 tember. Again, in June and July, 1846, I took a few more of the caterpillars on 

 the heath, which changed in September, and these I now have in the chrysalis 

 state. I have given my best attention to all the changes of this interesting 

 species for the last three years, and the result is that I find all the circumstances 

 precisely the same in each year. The larva, whilst young, feeds on birch, willow 

 and heath (Calluna vulgaris). It comes out from the egg in July, and is 

 adorned with a row of small grey spots - on the back, which increase in size as the 

 caterpillar grows, till the spots appear as large as common peas. These spots 

 are not in the skin, but consist of light grey-coloured hairs, the rest of the hairs 

 being of a dark chestnut colour, and so contrasting with the light grey before 

 mentioned; but at the end of 12 months the caterpillar changes into its last skin, 

 and the spots at the same time entirely disappear. It might then be mistaken for 

 the caterpillar of another species, if its size and the season of the year were not 

 regarded, and also the long period of 15 months which it had passed in the cater- 

 pillar state. Forming its cocoon in September, it lies through the winter in the 

 pupai state; therefore it requires two full years to complete its metamorphoses." . . . 

 Comparing it with quercus, we have: (1) Lasiocampa quercus, according to 

 Donovan [British Insects, iii., pp. 83 — 85), appears m the winged state in June, and 

 according to Westwood in August. The ? deposits her ova in June and July, the 

 caterpillar is hatched in autumn, and remains during the winter in this state. It 

 feeds on Quercus robur, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus oxyacantha and divers herb- 

 aceous plants. All the successive skins assumed by the animal in this state 

 exhibit, from first to last, the same general colours and markings. In the middle 

 of May it spins a cocoon of a dull, dirty straw-colour, and the perfect insect comes 

 out in June or July, so that one year only is occupied in its progress from the 

 ovum to the imago. The antenna of the male is very strongly and distinctly pectinated, 

 and consists of 64 minute articulated pieces, the joints of which are nearly hidden by 

 fine hairs, and measures, on an average, three-eighths of an inch in length. The size 

 of the insect is generally smaller, and the colouring of the body, wings and antennae 

 less deep and rich than those of the species following. (2) Lasiocampa callunae. The 



