XANTHIA CERAGO. 75 



in the middle, and reappear at the end; for on the 

 middle of each segment is a diamond shape of dark 

 brown composed of thickly aggregated freckles ; the 

 subdorsal is a dark brown freckled line forming the 

 upper boundary of a broad side-band of dark freckles, 

 extending to the spiracles, which are situated on its 

 lower edge ; the subspiracular region, belly and legs, 

 are faintly freckled with pale brown ; the head is dark 

 brown ; the second segment has a black velvety collar 

 or plate rounded behind, on which the subdorsal lines 

 appear conspicuously whitish or pale ochreous, with 

 sometimes a faint indication of a dorsal line on it ; 

 the anal tip is often similarly marked ; the tubercular 

 dots are often distinctly visible on the back in three 

 pairs on each segment (two pairs being the usual 

 allowance) scarcely paler than the ground colour, and 

 ringed with dark brown. 



When young, some larvee of this species are much 

 darker, with the marks and freckles almost black; 

 but as they increase in size they become paler. In 

 short, the distinct series of diamond shapes down the 

 back and the broad dark band along the sides are 

 characters that effectually distinguish this species. 



The larva of X. silago, though of similar size, form, 

 and general aspect of colouring, yet, when closely 

 scrutinised, presents to view a different design in the 

 ornamentation. 



The freckling on the back extends on either side as 

 far as the subdorsal region, forming on each segment 

 an irregular squarish shape, quite uniform in depth of 

 colouring, with the dorsal line only just indicated at 

 the segmental divisions ; the subdorsal region forms 

 the upper boundary of a very broad stripe of paler 

 frechling, followed by a much narrower and still paler 

 one, and then a broad one of similar depth of colour 

 to the back, but with more of a violet hue ; the rest 

 may be described in the same terms used for similar 

 parts of the larva of X. cerago. (W. B., February, 

 1870 ; E.M.M., VI, 262, April, 1870.) 



