STATES OF INSECTS. 185 



quite clean, and free from all viscidity 3 It is probable 

 that the other limaciform larvae are similarly circum- 

 stanced. Madame Merian has figured an onisciform one, 

 the legs of which, she says, are covered with a viscid skin: 

 this produced a Noctua. Those of Papilio AvcMses also 

 are slimy, and adhere to each other b . 



v. Amongst other qualities which attach to larvae, we 

 must not omit to say something concerning their Colour. 

 For though those which live in darkness, in the earth, 

 in wood, in fruits, &c. are, with few exceptions c , of an 

 uniform whitish colour, yet such as are exposed to the 

 influence of the light are usually adorned with a vast va- 

 riety of tints, sometimes the most vivid that can be ima- 

 gined. That the white colour of the former may be at- 

 tributed to the absence of light is proved by an experi- 

 ment of M. Dorthes, who having forced some to live un- 

 der glasses, exposed to the light, found that they gradu- 

 ally became brown d . To attempt any classification of 

 coloured larvae would be in vain, since they are tinged 

 with almost every possible shade that can be conceived, 

 of many of which it would be difficult to find examples 

 elsewhere; and infinitely diversified as to the arrangement 

 and figure of their multiform markings and spots. A few 

 general remarks, therefore, are all that you will expect 

 on this head. Many are of one uniform colour ; while a 

 variety of tints, very different, and very vivid and distinct, 

 ornament others. Sometimes they are distributed in 



a Natural History of the Slug-ivorm, 7. 



h Ins. Surinam, t. xv. xvii. 



c The larvae of Carabus L. form one., being generally black, 



d Annates de Chimie ii. 



