278 PEMPELIA HOSTILIS. 



am inclined to think that the latter is the correct 

 view, since the exercise of such a choice seems to fit 

 in better with larval instincts than with those of the 

 perfect state ; and, moreover, there was certainly, in 

 one instance, a marked difference in the sizes of two 

 larvae feeding together. (John H. Wood, 22nd 

 November, 1880; B.M.M., January, 1881, XVII, 177.) 



Pempelia betulm. 

 Plate CLVIII, fig. 10. 



On the 2nd of June last, 1883, accompanied by Mr. 

 George Tindall, I visited the Green Farm Wood, 

 Doncaster, to search for the larvse of Pempelia betulde. 

 Mr. W. Warren, of Cambridge, had told us he used to 

 take it there, and, following his instructions, Mr. 

 Tindall soon discovered a fine, nearly full-fed speci- 

 men ; and, before the afternoon was over, we had 

 each the satisfaction of having secured several. 



Length about three-quarters of an inch and rather 

 slender, but not conspicuously so in proportion. The 

 head is a little narrower than the second segment ; it 

 has the lobes rounded, and is, as is also the second 

 segment, polished. The body is cylindrical, thickest 

 in the middle, tapering gradually and evenly towards 

 each extremity. The segmental divisions are clearly 

 defined, and the skin is soft and velvety, very 

 sparingly clothed with short hairs. 



The ground colour is dull velvety-black ; the head 

 is black and glossy, but very prettily marbled on the 

 lobes with clear white, and there is also a white streak 

 above the mandibles. Two clear, bright, lemon-yellow 

 stripes (white on the second and anal segments) 

 extend through the centre of the dorsal area, running 

 parallel from the second to the twelfth segment, where 

 they unite and form one stripe through it and the 

 thirteenth. (When quite full-grown these stripes 

 become paler, and are then of a warm cream-colour.) 



