10 AGROTIS CORTICEA. 



believe for the first time, the larva of this species — 

 one of those subterranean, dull-coloured larvse, several 

 species of which may so easily be mistaken one for 

 another. 



To Mr. George Norman, of Forres, my best thanks 

 are due for the supply of eggs, which reached me 

 July 17th, 1870. The larvae were hatched between 

 the 20th and 25th of the same month ; those which I 

 kept under my own care had grown to the length of 

 half an inch by August 15th, and by October 5th to 

 one inch and three-eighths, and, soon after November 

 commenced, left off feeding, being, as I thought, 

 ready for pupation ; however, for some reason unknown 

 to me, they all died without changing. 



Meanwhile, the larvae of which Mr. Hellins took 

 charge grew more slowly, not being more than three- 

 quarters of an inch in length when their hybernation 

 commenced, and, luckily, several of them survived the 

 winter ; these began to feed again in March, moulted 

 about the beginning of April, and were full-fed from 

 about the end of April to the middle of May. The 

 moths appeared between the 17th of Juue and 6th of 

 July. 



The egg is somewhat the shape of an orange, but 

 with its under-side more flattened, with irregular, 

 shallow ribs and reticulations over its surface, and a 

 central boss or knob in a little depression on the top. 

 It is straw-coloured at first, afterwards of a flesh colour, 

 with pale brown zone or blotches. 



When first hatched, the larva is of a greenish-grey, 

 with blackish-brown head and plate behind it, the 

 usual dots black, and furnished with hairs. After 

 feeding for a few days, it becomes of a greenish- 

 ochreous tint, and in another week of a greenish- olive, 

 one example alone at this stage having been of a 

 reddish-grey ; the dots raised, and still furnished with 

 noticeable hairs. 



Up to this time, and for a few days longer, we found 

 the habit of this larva was to feed uncovered on any 



