50 HYDfiuECIA NICTJLTANS. 



colour and similarly margined. The blackish-brown 

 tubercular dots are very small along the back as far 

 as the eleventh segment, then rather larger on the 

 twelfth and front of the thirteenth. The oval black 

 spiracles at the bottom of the lower grey side stripe 

 are accompanied with blackish-brown spots, peculiarly 

 characteristic, viz. one in front and one above of ordi- 

 nary size, and a very large one behind the spiracle, and 

 in corresponding position on the third, fourth, and 

 twelfth segments this is even larger still and some- 

 what trilobed in shape; two other rows of single 

 spots, smaller and paler, occur below. 



When full grown the larva is about an inch and a 

 quarter in length, rather broadest on the third and 

 fourth segments, tapering thence a little to the head, 

 also in a very slight degree to the anal segment, which 

 is rounded oft behind. The characteristic head, plates, 

 and spots remain as before, but the previous contrast 

 of colours between the lighter side stripes and darker 

 back is now greatly reduced, and the light broadish 

 dorsal stripe also from its softened edges, and showing 

 faintly within a slightly deeper, greyish, pulsating 

 vessel. 



On entering the earth the larva encloses itself in an 

 earthen cocoon of weak cohesion. The pupa varies 

 from five-eighths to three-quarters of an inch in length, 

 and is of stoutish proportion, of the usual Noctua 

 form, the abdomen convexly tapering from the move- 

 able segments to the anal tip, which ends with two very 

 fine projecting points ; on the back of four of the middle 

 abdominal rings, just at the beginning of each, is a 

 narrow transverse band of punctate roughness, while 

 all the other parts are smooth and shining, and the 

 colour is of deep mahogany-brown. (W. B., 7, 1, 82 ; 

 E.M.M. XVIII, 195, February, 1882.) 



