51 
The larva when it first emerges conforms to the generic type ; in its 
later stages it is a very uninteresting one to the superficial observer, 
being very plain both as regards shape and markings (or, rather, lack 
of markings, for mine had none at all conspicuous excepting a darker 
medio-dorsal line). I learn, however, from Buckler that it is some¬ 
what variable in colour; I have not made any notes on the full-fed 
larvae which I have not infrequently picked up at Sandown, feeding 
on sallow by night. I have seldom, if ever, beaten the larva by day, 
and suppose it to have pretty strong prehensile powers. The length 
of the larval period in those which I raised was somewhat protracted ; 
hatching on April 27th, the first did not spin up until July 4th 
(pupated three days later) and the second until July 9th. The pupal 
period was quite short—thirteen days. The imago shows two distinct 
types of coloration, with occasional intermediates. The usual form 
in the South of England is bright ochreous, though often with some 
purplish gloss; but in northern specimens this usually becomes so 
strong that with but slight exaggeration they might be described as 
having a purple or violet ground-colour; this is beautifully illustrated 
in the one which I bred from Nottingham. Unfortunately, none of 
the names, so far as I have ascertained, are referable to this latter 
form, but I refrain from suggesting one until I have more thoroughly 
investigated the matter. Linnc’s type was quite normal, i.e., ochreous 
slightly tinged with purple, as the specimen in his collection shows ; 
in the generic diagnosis he describes it as “ fulvescent,” in the detailed 
description as “ cinnamon-coloured.” 
Ab. achatinata, Hb., is scarcely worth separating from the type, but 
may be taken to indicate the still brighter yellowish form without the 
purple tinge. Staudinger in his Catalog refers the name achatinata to 
Hubner’s Saminluny, figs. 301 and 408—the former being of the form 
which I have just mentioned, the latter a dwarfed aberration with 
some pinkish tinge; hut, in giving these references, he (Staudinger) 
has omitted to go hack to the earliest one, which is in Hubner’s T dyel 
und Schmetterlinye (1793). Through the kindness of Dr. Karl Jordan 
I have been able to examine the Hon. Walter Rothschild’s copy of this 
scarce work, to which I have already alluded as containing the earliest 
figure of Eustroma silaceata. I find the type figure of achatinata is of 
rather bright yellowish colour, which admits of its being united with 
fig. 301 of the Sammluny ; but it is not a very successful figure, as it 
has some peculiar drab blotches which do not seem to me to represent 
any natural form of the species. Another rarely cited synonym of 
testata is colorata, Fb., Ent. Syst., iii., 2, p. 177- Herrieh-Schaffer 
erroneously identified it with coinitata, L., with which Fabricius him¬ 
self compares it; Werneburg corrected Herrich-Schaffer, and con¬ 
sidered its identity with testata certain, and Aurivillius has recently 
proved him right,"having examined Fabricius’s type in Lund’s collec¬ 
tion (vide Ent. lid., xviii., p. 166). The original description shows it 
to be strictly synonymous with the type form, and therefore not avail¬ 
able for a varietal appellation. 
Lygris assocxata, Bork.—I place this species before pyraliata, Fb., 
because the last-named is aberrant in wanting the characteristic tuft 
of hairs. Miss Miller, of Chelmsford, kindly provided me with the 
ova from which I obtained the material for studying the early stages. 
They Avere sent on March 26th, 1900, and Miss Miller wrote me that 
