AGRIUS CONVOLVULt. 



359 



of oblique stripes on two of the larvae. The length varied from 50mm. to 65 mm. 



3. Division III of the earlier stages (omitting two larvae, one having 

 died in the 4th stage, while the green variety was put in spirits shortly after 

 ecdysis ; it is quite clear that the latter larva would have been dark). — All four 

 larvae were dark varieties ; three being very dark indeed, with small spots 

 representing the subdorsal line and hardly any trace of the oblique stripes. In 

 one case these spots were almost absent, and there was no trace of the stripes. 

 The fourth larva was remarkable, in that the subdorsal line and stripes were 

 distinct, the former for its whole length, although the larva was a dark variety. 

 (This latter larva is represented in pi. xvi.. fig. 8.) 



4. Division IV (including the two greenest varieties of the last stage). — 

 These two larvae were separated from their divisions shortly after ecdysis, on 

 October 17th. The darker variety was the larva removed from division IT. The 

 latter larva was dark ; the subdorsal being only represented posteriorly by a single 

 large distinct spot upon each side of each segment, but it was continuous upon 

 the thoracic segments. Traces of the stripes were present. (This larva is represented 

 on pi. xvi., fig. 9.) The other larva was light, and (at this time) intermediate 

 between the two lightest larvae of division I. (It is represented in pi. xvi., fig. 6.) 

 Both these larvae were preserved by Lord Walsingham and are now in the 

 Natural History Museum, South Kensington, where they are available for reference. 



The fourteen larvae were arranged in the order of relative darkness 

 as follows : — 



Degrees of Colour. 



05 > 



Cj _ 



H 



Equally black 

 with more 

 distinct sub- 

 dorsal spots 

 and traces of 

 stripes. 



Equally black 



but subdorsal 



continuous, 



and 



stripes distinct. 



Ground colour 



browner 

 and less dark. 



Ground colour 



still 



browner and 



less dark. 



Ground colour 



still browner 



and lighter; 



the dorsal lines 



distinct. 



Division II 

 Division I 

 Division IV 

 Division III 



I 



I* 



I 



I 



1° 



I 



1° 



I* 



I 



1° 



I* 



I 



I* 



I* 



The larvae marked ° possessed a light-coloured and extremely 

 prominent subspiracular line ; in the others, this line varied from 

 a light brown colour, almost like the marked larvae, up to a 

 distinct brown tint ; but this feature was always extremely distinct, 

 and formed by far the most prominent marking of the larvae. 

 The horn is now curved and shining like that of Sphinx ligustti in 

 the last stage. The prothoracic dorsal plate is very distinct and 

 polished (see figures). The larvae were re-compared on October 

 25th, when the four largest were 80mm. — 90mm. in length, 

 varying with the degree to which they were stretched. The 

 relative darkness was the same as on October 20th, except in the case 

 of the two lightest larvae of which the position was now the reverse 

 of that previously noted. The lightest larva was, therefore, the 

 lighter of the two in division IV (pi. xvi., fig. 6), while the next 

 lightest larva was the lightest of division I (pi. xvi., fig. 7). This 

 relative position is indicated in the order of the figures on pi. xvi., 

 but the arrangement of the previously-given tabular form requires 



* These represent the larvae figured pi. xvi., figs. 6-10. 



