40 AGLOSSA CUPREALIS. 



represents an agglomeration of pieces of straw, etc., 

 about three inches long, and more than half an inch 

 wide. 



The full-grown larva is 22 mm. in length, or 26 mm. 

 when extended, and just 3 mm. across the back at 

 about its middle ; the figure is cylindrical, and the 

 bulk very even throughout, except that the rounded 

 head is rather narrower than the second segment, 

 which is itself not so wide as the rest, being not so 

 much puffed at the sides; it is noticeable, however, 

 that the subspiracular ridge is less prominent than in 

 A. pinguinalis ; the skin is brilliantly glossy all over, 

 but under the microscope it is seen to be very finely 

 and beautifully shagreened ; the divisions between the 

 second and third, and the third and fourth segments 

 (as in A. pingimialis and Pyralis farinalis also) are 

 curiously plicated, the folds broadening in a curve 

 from the spiracular level to the centre of the back. The 

 general colour is from the sheen of the surface puzzling 

 to describe, bronzy-invisible-green-black being the 

 combination of words which suggested itself to three 

 or four careful observers, the hinder segments having 

 rather a paler tint; the head is deep chestnut-red, the 

 collar deeper red and edged narrowly in front with 

 black, the anal plate reddish but paler than the head, 

 sometimes with a yellowish tint; there is a double 

 dorsal thread to be seen with a lens under the skin, 

 being probably the borders of the dorsal vessel ; the 

 spiracles, which, except the first and last, are small, 

 are oval in outline, flat, and quite unprotected by any 

 fold, and are of the same colour as the ground; the 

 usual dots, which are hard to detect, are slightly 

 darker than the skin, and each has a fine hair which 

 shines golden in the sunlight ; the trapezoidals are 

 arranged very slightly out of the square position, and 

 the microscope detects several obsolete tubercles near 

 them, as well as little rows of glittering foveolae, which 

 are very curious, and perhaps indicate the attachments 

 of the muscles at a series of points. 



