87 
distinguishing them from the numerous secondary tubercles, bearing 
setie, that are indistinguishable after the second moult or there¬ 
abouts. In fact, so little does this 1st stadium appearance of 
secondary hairs in Amorphids (Smerinthids) impress me from a 
c-lassificatory point of view, that I doubt if it affords good grounds for 
giving the Amorphinae group greater value than the other groups 
in B. 
_ What it does afford evidence of, I submit, in spite of the weighty 
objections of Dr. Chapman to this view, is that the larva of Amor¬ 
phinae is a more specialised and not more primitive form. There may 
or may not be a coat of minute spicules on a Sphingid larva, but these, 
although possibly, or, perhaps, probably, the original source from 
which the secondary hairs were developed, are not now in any way cor¬ 
related, so far as I am aware, although there may be a closer affinity 
between spicules and the bristly setae on horn in the 1st stadium. 
I he secondary hairs do not appear until after the first moult, except 
in Amorphid (Smerinthid) lame, and appear to be analogous to those 
of Lachneid and Dimorphid (Endromid) larvae, especially in regard to 
the development of pigmented specks, or spots surrounding their 
bases. The bases of these hairs in many, if not all, the Sphingid lame 
are raised to a greater or less extent in one or more stadia. In this 
form they are especially characteristic of Amorphid (Smerinthid), and 
to a less extent of Ilernarid lame. Accompanying the raised base 
is the pigmented spot above referred to. This is usually of a pale, if 
vivid hue, in the Sphingids, and reaches its zenith, among the few larva' 
1 have seen, among the Phryxids. It is also noticeable in lamp of 
Dimorpha versicolora and some Lachneid lame, but as dark instead of 
pale spots. It may not, perhaps, be out of place to call attention 
here to the persistent character of these spots on lame of all three 
groups, as they are frequently found standing out in sharp contrast 
to the general body colour, and even to specialised markings. In 
lli/les euphorbiae, wherever the black (a late feature) encroaches on 
the primitive green or yellow it does so at first as streaks or dots at 
mid distance between the hair bases, as though the area surround¬ 
ing the hair base were distinct from the general skin surface, and, 
as a character of old standing, were antagonistic to later develop¬ 
ments. This development of dark pigmentation along the lines of 
least resistance, as it were, produces the tesselated pattern of the dark 
forms of Eumorphid (Chcerocampid) larva?, and its influence may be 
traced in some Sphinx larvae, for instance, Hyloicus pinastri, and the 
dark form of Ayr ins convolvuli, where the dark pigment will be found 
chiefly as dark streaks at the juncture of the sub-segments (i.e., fur¬ 
thest from the hair bases, as these are usually situated or more 
strongly developed at the ridge of sub-segment). In Amorphids 
(Smerinthus) this growth of secondary hairs extends over the whole 
body in the first larval stadium, and is so dense as to give the larvae 
a doormat-like appearance, the hairs being stiff, bristly, and compara¬ 
tively long, compared with their development in later stages ; the 
primitive seta* only being determinable on account of their greater size. 
The hairs in this 1st stadium of Amorphinae (Smerinthus) * appear much 
* For the best description of these hairs in Amorphinae (Smerinthids), see 
Dr. T. A. Chapman’s detailed notes on pages 388, 389 of vol. iii. of Tutt’s British 
Lepidoptera. 
