Note 179 — STUDIES IN THE THEORY OF DESCENT

[The larvæ of genera 14, Phyciodes, and 35, Crenis, are likewise spiny. See Edwards’ “Butt. of N. Amer.” vol. ii. for figures of the caterpillar of Phyc. Tharos: for notes on the larvæ of Crenis Natalensis and C. Boisduvali see a paper by W. D. Gooch, “Entomologist,” vol. xiv. p. 36. The larvæ of genus 55, Ageronia, are also spiny. (See Burmeister’s figure of A. Arethusa, “Lép. Rép. Arg.” Pl. V. Fig. 4). The larvæ of genus 98, Aganisthos, also appear to be somewhat spiny (see Burmeister’s figure of A. Orion, loc. cit. Pl. V. Fig. 6), and this raises the question as to whether the genus is correctly located in its present position. The larvæ of the following genera figured in Moore’s “Lepidoptera of Ceylon,” parts i. and ii., are all spiny:—6, Cirrochroa (Pl. XXXII.); 7, Cynthia (Pl. XXVI.); 27, Kallima (Pl. XIX.); and 74, Parthenos (Pl. XXIV.). Many species of caterpillars which are spiny when adult appear to be spineless, or only slightly hairy when young. See Edwards’ figures of Melitæa Phaeton, Argynnis Diana, and Phyc. Tharos (loc. cit.) and his description of the larva of Arg. Cybele, “Canad. Entom.” vol. xii. p. 141. The spiny covering thus appears to be a character acquired at a comparatively recent period in the phyletic development. R.M.]