LASIOCAMPA QUERCUS. 101 



xxxvii., p. 125) that the first covering of the cocoon consists of web ; 

 the second consists of a glutinous secretion — probably the web itself 

 in a liquid state — which the larva smears over the first ; and the final 

 coat is web again ; the hairs of the larva are also mixed with the outer 

 covering, and, in consequence, handling the cocoons causes a certain 

 amount of irritation. 6. Nicholson observes that the cocoons 

 made by larvae of L. quercus and L. var. callunae, that had been 

 bred side by side, were not really different in appearance; some in 

 each set varied from dark brownish-black to greyish. Crallan notes 

 that he obtained both light and dark cocoons from larvae collected 

 on Hayward's Heath (and that never fed on ling), but that there 

 was no difference in the imagines bred therefrom. Ross notes 

 (Zoo/., 1846, p. 1346) that the empty cocoon, when burnt in candle 

 flame, turns first to white ash, then becomes equal in intensity to 

 the "Bude light" — a brilliant phosphorescent white of dazzling bright- 

 ness. 



Pupa. — i. L. var. meridionalis: $. 24mm. in length, 

 11mm. in width (from end of wing-cases to shoulders), about 

 9'5mm. in thickness just at tips of antenna-cases which are much 

 raised. Ventrally : The wing-cases reach to end of 4th abdominal 

 segment, giving a very wide and heavy appearance to pupa ; 

 segments 5, 6, and 7 taper rapidly to anus, forming a relatively 

 short cone attached to the more oblong portion formed by thorax 

 and wing-cases ; the head blunt, almost square in outline. Dorsally : 

 The pupa tapers gradually from the 1st or 2nd abdominal segment 

 to anus ; the thoracic plate is markedly convex, and appears stout 

 and strong ; colour, red-brown, pale on ventral surface of abdominal 

 segments, dark on dorsal area, almost black on thorax and head ; 

 wing-cases dark brown. General notes : The antenna- and leg-cases 

 very marked, the former much raised • the head small, but stands 

 out clearly from thorax; the eye -cases prominent; spiracles black 

 raised bosses, with a deep, slit-like pit in centre, those on 7th 

 abdominal specially prominent ; anal end evenly rounded ; cremaster 

 consists of a thick mass of short, stout, pointed bristles, most 

 conspicuous dorsally ; a few fine, short bristles round the spiracles 

 on 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th abdominal segments; the fine sharp pitting 

 on surface suggests that the pupa was ancestrally covered with 

 fine hairs (like that of Macrothylacia rubi). $ . 32mm. in length, 

 14mm. in width, and n -5mm. in thickness; greatest girth at 4th 

 abdominal segment, at end of wing-cases ; tapers considerably 

 towards head ; wing-cases not projecting from sides (so much as in 

 $ pupa) ; the antenna- and leg-cases not so prominent ; otherwise 

 the $ pupa is structurally very similar to that of J . 2. L. var. viburni 

 (from southern France) : Pupae of two males examined ; only 

 difference from above is that the pupa of L. var. viburni is more squat, 

 shorter, and comparatively broader than that of L. var. meridionalis. 

 3. L. quercus (English) : $ . 22mm. long, nmm. wide, about 9mm. in 

 thickness. No difference to be detected between the pupae of English L. 

 quercus, and French L. var. meridionalis. The difference in the curve of 

 antennae is very different in both English quercus and French meridionalis 

 from that of the pupa of L. var. viburni, probably due to greater width 

 of the latter. There is no development in the 3 pupa suggestive 

 of the strongly pectinated antennae of the $ imago, although the pupal 



