Packard.] 
526 
[Feb. 19, 
having five humps ; four oil the four basal abdominal segments and 
one on the eighth. 
Larva of Ner ice bidentata . — This form, judging by the figure and 
description of Mr. C. L. Marlatt, 1 is an exaggeration of that of the 
European N. dromedarius , as each abdominal segment from the 
first to the ninth bears a large fleshy two-toothed hump, the three 
largest on segment 3 to 5. Thus the outline of the back is 
serrate, and perhaps mimics the serrate edge of the leaf of the elm 
on which it feeds. The body is greenish, with the upper half of the 
sides washed with white, with crimson spots and bands, the tip of 
the dorsal protuberances being also crimson. 
Mr. Marlatt does not state whether the dorsal tubercles are mov- 
able, or whether the caterpillar is protected by mimicking the outlines 
or the colors of the leaf of its food plant. Further observations 
are needed on this point. 
LIFE-HISTORY OF EDEMA ALBIFRONS (ABBOT AND SMITH). 
For the description of the early stages of this caterpillar I have 
not full notes drawn up from living specimens, but have to depend 
on alcoholic examples of the different stages and the excellent 
colored sketches of Mr. Bridgham, so that this notice is in part 
provisional, as we have yet to see the eggs, although this is one of 
the commonest caterpillars on the oak. 
First stage; larva just hatched . — Length 5-6 mm., Aug. 24. 
Just before the first moult the body is moderately thick and of a 
pale yellowish tint ; the head is brown, not deep amber, as in the 
subsequent stages. The anal legs are decidedly smaller than the 
other abdominal legs and somewhat uplifted, or rather extended hor- 
izontally. They are slightly retractile and probably bear a few 
hooks. The large dorsal hump on the eighth abdominal segment, 
so characteristic of the genus Edema, is already well developed, so 
that the chief generic characters of the caterpillar appear at birth. 
The hairs are minute, short, sparse and very slightly thickened at 
the end, all of the same length and arising from minute, micro- 
scopic warts. The dark dorsal line is only faintly indicated ; the 
lateral dark brown line well marked, most distinct on the protho- 
racic segment, interrupted at the sutures, and faded out on the eighth 
1 Trans. 20th and 21st Annual Meetings of the Kansas Academy of Science, 1887-88, 
xi, 1889, 110. 
