SCOPULA FERRUGALIS. 175 



piece is finally cast off, and the general appearance 

 very similar to that of the mature larva, excepting 

 only that the back is often of a more silvery white- 

 ness. After another moult the growth increases 

 considerably, and after the last operation of this 

 nature the full growth is soon developed, for its 

 appetite also increases in proportion, and large pieces 

 are eaten from the leaves, as well as large holes through 

 them, so that at this period the indications of its pre- 

 sence on a plant are sufficiently obvious. 



Its habits from the first are to hide itself by draw- 

 ing together with white silk a part of a leaf, or to 

 fold under a part of one edge ; afterwards to partially 

 join two leaves together so as to conceal itself; and 

 latterly to lie in a very slight and open web of a few 

 fine threads, which, spun on the under surface of a 

 leaf, create and retain the hollow the larva designs to 

 dwell in ; and where it finds a secure footing, stretched 

 out on the threads. 



The full-grown larva varies from three-quarters to 

 nearly seven-eighths of an inch in length ; it is mode- 

 rately stout along the middle of the body and attenu- 

 ated at each end ; the head is flattened, widest near 

 the mouth, which is rather prominently in advance ; 

 the segments beyond the fourth are well defined, 

 especially beneath, and the deepest wrinkle across 

 the back of each is farther behind than in many 

 Pyrales, but this is not very deep ; another rather less 

 deep is near the beginning, and a much fainter one 

 near the end ; the ventral legs are slender, and the 

 anal pair extended behind the body. 



The colour of the head is pale drab, the front 

 margins of the lobes freckled with brown, and a group 

 of similar freckles on each cheek, the mouth and a 

 transverse streak above it light brown, the ocelli 

 black ; the dorsal stripe is dark translucent green, 

 showing at times a still darker pulsating vessel 

 within ; this stripe is less distinct on the thoracic 

 segments, as they are broadly tinged on the back with 



