96 



[September, 



I confess I am not satisfied with what I have done about the egga. 

 More careful labour with the microscope than is in my power to bestow 

 is needed to make good work here : I should like the micrometer to be 

 brought into use for the more accurate comparison of dimensions, and 

 a good equipment of condensers and reflectors will be required to make 

 quite sure of the colouring and markings of the surface ; and, after all, 

 I fancy it will be found that while certain genera — Ennomos and Acidalia 

 for example — furnish interesting studies in this stage, there are others in 

 which the allied species cannot be safely distinguished in the egg. 



The eggs of holosericata reached me July 17th, 1867 ; larviE hatched 

 on the 25th. They fed on the rock rose, Helianthemum vulgar e, and their 

 habit was to congregate three or four together near the bottom of a 

 shoot, strip it for some distance of its bark or skin, and then feed on 

 the withered leaves at the tip of the shoot as it hung down : but of 

 course I cannot say whether in nature they are to be found singly or in 

 company. They ceased feeding during the winter, and were at all times 

 very sluggish and quiet in their habits. They moulted for the last 

 time about the end of March, spun up during May, and the moths ap- 

 peared June 20th to 29th, 1868. 



Interjectaria. — Eggs obtained here July 12th, 1867 ; others sent 

 me by Mr. Brown, of Cambridge, July l7th: larvae hatched on 24th 

 and 26th : fed on dandelion and scarlet pimpernel, prefering withered 

 leaves, and indeed would eat almost anything withered : spun up in 

 May, 1868, and moths appeared June 24ith to 29th. 



Scutulata. — Eggs laid July 12th, 1867; larvae hatched on 17th, ate 

 withered dandelion, and in the spring seemed very fond of a mouldy 

 slice of turnip, which had been put into their flower-pot to catch an 

 intruding slug: spun up during May and June; moths out June 8th 

 to July 2nd 



Bisetata. — Eggs sent me by Mr. Doubleday July 26th, 1867 ; larvae 

 hatched on 30th ; fed on Polygonum aviculare, and withered bramble 

 leaves ; spun up in May ; moths out June 20th to 25th. 



The egg of holosericata is almost barrel-shaped, and perhaps more 

 evenly flattened at the ends than any other of the Acidalice ; it is 

 covered with a coarser reticulation than interjectaria, and in colour is 

 decidedly yellow. 



Interjectaria— the egg is flattened at either end, but not so de- 

 cidedly, the reticulation finer, the colour pinkish. 



Scutulata — rather longer in sliape, one end flattened, the other more 

 conical, covered with minute pits or depressions ; colourwhitish, mottled 

 with brownish-pink. 



