182 STATES OF INSECTS. 



but Bonnet ascertained, that if cut off very closely, the 

 larva sometimes died in consequence, whilst no such re • 

 suit followed a similar operation on hairy larvae. We 

 learn from Reaumur a , that some spinous larvae of saw- 

 flies ( Tenthredo L.) lose their spines at the last change of 

 their skin; and from Madame Merian, that that of Atta- 

 cus Erythrince before mentioned loses also at the same 

 period the six tremendous black spikes that arm its black 

 and yellow larvae. The grubs of ants that are destined 

 to pass the winter in the larva state are hairy, but are not 

 so in summer b . The spines found in the grubs of some 

 gad-flies {(Estrus L.) are of a different kind from those 

 above described, being very minute triangular flat plates, 

 arranged in different and contrary directions c , and serv- 

 ing the insect merely to change its place and fix itself d . 



Two other kinds of clothing, if so they may be called, 

 neither coming under the description of hairs nor spines, 

 are found in some other larvae, not only amongst the Le- 

 pidoptera, but also in some of the other orders. Nym- 

 phalis Populi and others of the same family have larvae 

 furnished on the back of each segment with cylindrico- 

 conical processes of a fleshy substance, obtuse at the apex 

 and surrounded with capitate hairs. In that of N. Sy- 

 hilla, which has on each segment two fleshy protube- 

 rances, they are bifurcate or trifurcate, and also encir- 

 cled at the base with a hairy tuft e . Others, as those of 

 Melit(jea Artemis, Cynthia, &c. have each segment beset 

 on the back with from seven to nine fleshy, pubescent, 

 wedge-shaped protuberances ; two larger ones projecting 



a Reaum. v. 95. b Huber Mceurs des ftournm, 79. 



c See above, Vol, II. p. 276—. d Reaum. v. 72, /. ix, f. 2—4. 

 e Rds. t.9\\. 



