ASTHENA SYLVATA. 73 
had been rearing himself, but I found these were by 
no means so far advanced as mine had been, for by 
August loth they were not half-grown, and did not 
pass their last moult for another week; however, by 
the beginning of September they had spun up. A 
larva captured by Mr. McLachlan in Devonshire, in 
1875, did not spin till the second week of September, 
whilst one lent for figuring in 1874 by Mr. A. H. 
Jones was nearly full-fed by July 17th. These dates 
for the maturity of the larva—varying from the middle 
of July to the middle of September—almost give 
time enough for a second brood, but I suppose the 
safer inference is that the single brood of moths has a 
flight of some duration. 
The egg is bluntish-oval in outline, flattened, the 
shell embossed all over with a small triangular pattern, 
the colour very pale yellowish-white throughout, no 
change taking place to the last; hence it is necessary 
to watch very carefully for the hatching of the larve, 
for there is nothing to give warning of their exit, and, 
being very delicate, they will soon die if not supplied 
with food. 
The newly hatched larva is of a very pale greenish- 
white tint, the head very slightly tinged with brown, 
the skin shining, the usual hairs fine, and whitish in 
colour. As the larva grows, and up to the last moult, 
it becomes more translucent; when three-eighths of 
an inch long its figure is stumpy, the segments look- 
ing puffed, stoutest at the ninth, and thence tapering 
towards either end. The body now looks quite pellucid, 
except that the internal organs show as a pale dull 
green stripe down the back, and the puffed spiracular 
region is pale yellowish-green ; the small head black. 
With the last moult comes a complete change ; 
the pellucid look disappears, and a very handsome 
contrast of colours is seen, the tints of which, as 
usual, are much richer and deeper at first, becoming 
oradually paler as the larva approaches maturity. 
When full-fed the larva measures five-eighths of an 
