30 (ENISTIS QUADRA. 



with this species, sent me three young larvae of varying 

 size, which he had beaten from oak trees near Col- 

 chester, and at St. Osyth, on the 10th, 16th, and 17th 

 of June, 1873. 



These were kept separate, and their progress was as 

 follows: — No. 1, June 11th; length three-quarters of 

 an inch, moulted 19th, increased to one and three- 

 eighths of an inch, spun up July 1st ; imago 21st, a 

 male. No. 2, June 18th; length five-eighths of an 

 inch, moulted 21st, increased to three-quarters of an 

 inch, moulted 30th, increased to one and three-eighths 

 of an inch, spun up July 12th ; imago August 2nd, 

 a male. No. 3, June 18th; length half an inch, 

 increased to five-eighths of an inch, moulted 24th, in- 

 creased to three-quarters of an inch, moulted July 3rd, 

 increased to nearly one inch, moulted July 14th, 

 increased to one and a half inches or a little more, 

 spun up 27th ; imago August 14th, a female. 



Each of these larvae, on arrival, possessed all the 

 characters and colours that distinguished them through 

 their changes of skin to the adult state presently to be 

 described. The food supplied to them consisted of 

 various lichens from oak trees, and at first a few leaves 

 also, as I noticed the oak leaves that were sent to me 

 with each larva had been nibbled a little on the 

 journey ; I also gave them Lichen caninus, for which 

 they soon showed such a decided preference that it 

 became almost their only nourishment; when disturbed, 

 they were very lively and active, running quickly over 

 any surface, yet clinging with a firm foot-hold when 

 they chose. Altogether, a great quantity of food was 

 devoured by them, and at times they seemed to eat 

 quite voraciously, always on the dark cuticle of the 

 lichen, not seeming to care for the pale fleshy sub- 

 stance beneath. 



When about to moult, the colours became less vivid, 

 and the details less distinct ; at such times the larva 

 would leave its food for the leno cover of its cage, and 

 there spin a patch of silk, and fix itself upon it ; then 



