94 BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



Addington (Russell) ; April 23rd — May 7th, 1901, on bramble, at 

 Epping. June 1st, 1901, at Rye, June 5th, 1901, at Marhamchurch 

 (Image). Larvae are much more abundant in some years than others 

 in many districts, e.g., the Chatham and Strood district (Tutt), the 

 King's Lynn district, especially so in 1898 (Atmore), &c, whilst 

 Galliers observes (Fnt. W. Inf., vi., p, 107) that he and friends alone 

 took away more than 250 larvae from the Wallasey sandhills in the 

 spring of 1859. 



Larva. — Structurally all the forms of the larvae of L. quercus 

 are identical with that already given of L. var. viburni (anted, pp. 

 60 — 62) and L. var. callunae (anted, p. 75); there is, therefore, no 

 need to reproduce the structural peculiarities. [In the first two 

 instars, the colour of the larvae of the two French forms is almost 

 identical, although considerable differences occur in this particular 

 in the later stadia. The following notes, therefore, relating to 

 the larvae of L. var. meridionalis, must be read in conjunction with 

 the description of the larva of L. var. viburni already given, and 

 if it be observed that they refer more particularly to differences of plum- 

 age, it is because the structural characters are identical. These notes, 

 which are comparative, were made on the same dates and side by side 

 with the larvae already described (anted, pp. 60 — 62). 1. Larva from 

 Southern France* (L. var. meridionalis ) : First instar: No certain differ- 

 ence observable between the larva in this stage and that of L. var. 

 viburni. The oblique stripes are, perhaps, rather stronger, but the 

 difference is not sufficient to certainly distinguish them, the character 

 being more or less emphasised in different larvae (November 1st, 

 1896). Second instar : No differences noticeable from larvae of L. var. 

 viburni; they appear to be identical even to the colour of the hairs 

 (November 15th). Third instar: Exactly similar still except in one 

 respect, i.e., the colour of the hairs on the central dorsal area, in 

 the line of the wedge-shaped spots ; the colour of these hairs is much 

 lighter in var. meridionalis than in var. viburni (December 6th). Fourth 

 instar: There is now a very marked difference between this and 

 var. viburni. The short downy hair or fur which covers the dorsal 

 area, with the exception of the intersegmental areas, is pure white f, 

 as also are the lateral and the long dorsal hairs \ there are a few 

 scattered black hairs of medium length present as in var. viburni; 

 the only golden-brown hairs on var. meridionalis larva now are a few on 

 the head, thoracic segments, and 9th abdominal, and, in some larvae, 

 a few scattered patches on lateral area ; in all other respects the 

 larvae appear to be identical (December 27th, 1896). Fifth instar: 



* This account of the larva of L. var. meridionalis would have been better 

 added to our description of the imago (antea, p. 59), but, having been omitted 

 there, has found a place here. 



f This difference in the colour of the dorsal fur is really an important one, 

 for the fur is, perhaps, the most characteristic feature of the larva. The larva 

 of L. var. viburni gives one the impression of a golden-red or -brown larva with 

 black bands. Larvae of L. var. meridionalis from southern France suggest a white 

 larva with similar bands. It would be interesting to know if the habits and habitats 

 of these two forms of the larva are exactly similar in nature, and, if not, what 

 the difference is that produces so striking a change in colour. There must be some 

 important environmental factor at work in this direction. The larvae of L. quercus 

 Irom Dorsetshire differ from both the continental forms in the characters by which 

 they have just been distinguished ; they approach, however, nearest to the larvae of 

 French meridionalis in the third instar, but are somewhat larger (Bacot). 



