ACIDALIA DEGENERARIA. 127 
AGIDALIA DEGENERARIA. 
Plate OXIX, fig. 9. 
On the 8th of August, 1871, I had the pleasure of 
receiving from Mr. George Harding, of Bristol, the 
welcome eift of eight young larve of this species, 
hatched on the 29th July from eggs laid loose in a 
box on the 18th by a much worn female which had 
been captured the same day in the Isle of Portland. 
Mr. Harding also informed me that the eggs were 
pink in colour, and became darker and more dingy 
just before hatching, and that the newly-hatched 
larvee differed in no respect but that of size from their 
appearance when consigned to me, having fed from 
the first on Polygonum aviculare. 
At this time, being ten days old, they were about 
three lines long, slender, and of a greenish-brown 
colour, and, when at rest, were generally in a looped 
position, but were remarkably timid, tucking their 
heads under and curling up into a close coil at the 
least alarm, and persistently remaining in this posture 
for a long time; their voluntary movements were 
very slow and measured. 
By the middle of September they had changed their 
colouring to a rich cinnamon-brown above, and 
blackish beneath; on a close scrutiny for details at 
this time they presented exactly the same design as 
hereafter described in the adult state; they now 
began to be lethargic, and to show symptoms of 
hybernating, but, as the Polygonwm was still pro- 
curable, I often disturbed them with fresh food to 
- incite them to eat, i the hope of getting one or two 
to feed up before winter; this at one time seemed 
probable, though with a change of colder weather 
they baftled my design by ceasing to feed, and insisting 
on sleep. 
In this state, and reduced to six in number, on 
October 29th they were transferred to a pot with 
