270 
LYCAENIDAE 
to those of the eggs of the Blues) ; these are largest on the 
side, and form a fine but irregular pattern. The surface is 
also studded with prominent knobs ; these and the connecting 
keels all resemble white frosted glass ; the true surface of 
the shell is granular and of a clear green colour. The egg 
stage lasts eight days. 
Larva. Cannibalism. After the first moult, when the little 
larvae are only 4 mm. long, they become cannibals and greedily 
feast on the younger individuals, especially when the latter 
are fixed for moulting. I detected several being eaten by the 
freshly-moulted ones. From this age the larvae retain this 
habit and will attack each other when fully grown. 
After the third moult the larva attains full growth and 
measures 15 mm. in length while resting. The head is a 
shining brown with a pearl-white band above the mouth. It 
is hidden while the larva is at rest and usually when feeding, 
being withdrawn into the first segment, which is compressed 
and has a central dorsal, pale ochreous, shield-like disc. The 
segments are prominently humped dorsally each side of the 
longitudinal furrow ; the last three segments are sloping and 
rounded laterally like the first; 'the sides are concave and 
sloping to the dilated lateral ridge. The ground colour is a 
brilliant green with a series of oblique citrine-yellow markings 
on the side, and a lateral line of the same colour. The larva 
is rather thickly covered with brown spinous hairs of various 
lengths. On the tenth segment is a small inconspicuous 
transverse dorsal gland (vide the M. arion larva), smaller but 
apparently similar to that of the Lycaenidae larvae. 
When ready for pupation, the larva roams about in search 
of a suitable site for the purpose, which in a wild state is 
undoubtedly among moss or other suitable cover on the 
ground at the base of the food plant. In captivity some 
pupated among’the litter on the ground, and in some instances 
the pupae were hidden between the leaves and stems of the 
Broom on which they fed. The larval state occupies twenty- 
five days. 
Pupa. The pupa measures from 8 mm. to 9*50 mm. in 
length ; it is stout, rounded, and dumpy in shape. The head 
is slightly angular in front; the thorax is rounded and slightly 
sunken at the waist; the abdomen is swollen and curved to the 
