114 PLUSIA GAMMA. 



of the readers of this note may be able to suggest an 

 explanation. The colouring of the larvse, I am satis- 

 fied, was perfectly natural, and not due in any way to 

 disease or feebleness. The larva I described was 

 darker than the majority, but the others were suffi- 

 ciently near it to be included in the same type. 



Length when full-grown about an inch ; ground- 

 colour very dark olive-green, in one specimen nearly 

 black : head and prolegs intensely black and shining ; 

 two very fine, interrupted, almost inconspicuous 

 yellow lines extend through the dorsal region, fol- 

 lowed outside by a broad, bright yellow, double sub- 

 dorsal line, the outer of the two stripes being narrower 

 than the inner; spiracular stripes also broad and 

 bright yellow; tubercles raised, large and distinct, 

 black, surmounted with a pale greyish-yellow spot, 

 though these paler spots are less conspicuous on the 

 side than on the dorsal tubercles ; each spot emits a 

 single short stiff hair of the same grey colour; 

 spiracles greyish-yellow, narrowly edged with brown ; 

 ventral surface dark olive-green, the prolegs having 

 on the outsides a large cup-shaped black mark. (Geo. 

 T. Porritt, 7th September, 1892 ; E.M.M., October, 

 1892, XXVIII, 255.) 



The article by Mr. Porritt, on a probably hitherto 

 undescribed form of the larva of Plusia gamma im- 

 mediately brought to my mind a similar experience 

 during last July. On the 6th, 10th, and 14th of that 

 month my boys discovered several small half-looper 

 larvae whilst searching amongst Matricaria for those 

 of Oucullia chamomillse. I was much puzzled with 

 these larvae, although I had a suspicion that they 

 would produce PL gamma, but they were so totally 

 different from the usual form that I thought I might 

 be mistaken. Speaking from memory, they exactly 

 coincided with the description given by Mr. Porritt, 

 and it was the dark olive-green colour of the stripes 

 that so especially attracted my attention and caused 

 my doubts, which were increased by the smallness of 



