66 STAUROPUS FAG1. 



of deep purple, a pale, flesh-coloured ring occupied the 

 place of the previous brown central spot, which had 

 faded, and near this ring on one of the eggs now ap- 

 peared smaller twin spots of purple. On the 1st of 

 July they changed to a deep purple nearly all over, a 

 small central spot of deep purple encircled by a paler 

 halo of flesh-colour. On the morning of July 2nd the 

 eggs appeared clouded irregularly, and one larva 

 hatched about 10.30 a.m., whilst I was looking at the 

 eggs. After eating a large hole in the side of the shell 

 it began to emerge and as soon as its front segments 

 were extruded its anterior legs began to be extended 

 at their full length and to play continuously with a 

 tremulous motion, whilst segment after segment issued 

 deliberately from the shell till the entire larva, the 

 caudal filaments last, was clear of it. It then for a 

 couple of minutes or more turned itself round, still 

 playing its long legs as though to rejoice in their free- 

 dom, and presently began to breakfast on the glisten- 

 ing, but semi-opaque white egg-shell ; the first pair of 

 legs served as hands, whilst the second and third pairs, 

 though comparatively quiet, fidgeted about and were 

 never still even whilst the larva was intent on its meal, 

 which from the vigorous motion of the head seemed to 

 be a tough one. At this time its length was three- 

 sixteenths of an inch, even with the posterior segments 

 and filaments erect. In all respects, both as to form 

 and colour, it presented a complete miniature repre- 

 sentation of the adult larva. The head, the second, 

 twelfth, and thirteenth segments were dark brown, all 

 the rest of the body and legs of a lighter reddish- 

 brown, the entire surface very glossy. After stopping 

 at short intervals to play about its long legs vigorously, 

 in about an hour and a half it had consumed the greater 

 portion of the egg-shell.* The second was hatched the 



* I find a loose note in Mr. Buckler's Note Book that in a letter he 

 had had from Mr. Doubleday, June 30th, 1868, the writer had said " the 

 young larvse of fagi are more like ants than caterpillars. This larva 

 always changes its skin before it eats anything, with the exception of 

 the egg-shell." Mr, Buckler does not appear to have himself confirmed 

 this latter observation. — H. T. S. 



