228 The Philippine Journal of Science 1921 
I may mention that the larva of this species finds a place in 
the materia medica of the lower class Japanese as a specific for 
certain diseases, and Nawa corroborates me in this statement. 
He says : 
e 
Popular superstition attributes to this larva some efficacy in cases of 
consumption but I have never heard of any cures effected in such cases. 
I have often in my wanderings through the Bukenji Woods, 
near Yokohama, met men carrying shallow baskets filled with 
these larvae and, on inquiry, have learned that they were to be 
sold to native apothecaries. They are sold by collectors at 
about 3 sen (1.5 cents gold) per larva, and after being dried in 
the sun are grilled over a fire. The retail price at which they 
are sold by the apothecary ranges from 4 to 5 sen per larva 
(2 to 2.5 cents gold). It has been stated to me that these dried 
larvae are supposed to be efficacious in cases of piles, convulsions, 
and worms in children. As a matter of fact the lower class 
Japanese employ the larvae of several other species of Heterocera 
for similar purposes, such as those of Sciapteron regale Butler 
wich feeds inside the stems of the wild grape, yama-budd ( Vitis 
coignetise Pull.), and also of Phassus signifer Walker and Phas- 
sus excrescens Butler, which are found in the stmes of the kusagi 
( Clerodendron tricotomum Thunb.) and other trees. This how- 
ever is not surprising when one considers that the Romans are 
reported to have regarded the larva of Cossus ligniperda L., 
also an internal feeder, as a great table delicacy. 
The following description of the larva of the allied species 
Brahmsea cej'thia Fabr. ( =.undulata Brem. and Grey; petiveri 
Butler), from Amurland, northern and central China, and Korea, 
is given by Seitz and is useful for comparison with that of B. 
japonica, which it seems to resemble in some respects : 
Larva grey to blackish, when young with two horns rolled up at the 
ends on segment 2 and two similar ones on 3; the remaining segments 
only have small knobs, the anal segment bears an also very strongly 
curved horn resembling that of the Sphingidae. When full grown the 
larva is smooth, segments 2 and 3 swollen, on the anal segment a stumpy 
hump. Markings and colour very variable, frequently confined to a few 
small black streaks or bright-coloured spiracular dots. According to Staud- 
inger the larvae of the East-Asiatic form are much more brightly marked 
and coloured than the almost uniformly dark larvae of ledereri of Asia 
Minor [a form of certhia Fab.]. According to Korb the larvae often live in 
companies of from 20 to 30 specimens and prefer rather sunny, sterile 
localities; until June or August on Privet, Syringa, Ash, Phillyrea and 
other trees; when disturbed they emit a cracking or crackling noise. They 
pupate without a cocoon in or on the ground beneath stones ; pupa blackish, 
