Ovum*. — Of  flat  type,  micropylar  axis  horizontal ;  i'6mm.  long,
I •4mm.  wide;  pale  yellow-green,  very  shiny,  oval  in  outline,  but
some  variation  (occasionally  almost  circular),  the  two  ends  almost
equally  rounded ;  the  upper  surface  with  a  somewhat  circular
depression,  variable  in  size,  the  sloping  edges  of  the  depression
slightly  iridescent ;  the  surface  finely  striated  longitudinally,  very
minutely  pitted ;  the  micropyle  only  traceable  as  a  small  depression
at  one  end,  the  micropylar  area  apparently  similar  to  rest  of  egg-
shell (Described  June  12th,  1899,  from  eggs  laid  June  5th,  and
received  from  Mr.  Hope  Alderson).  Of  a  plump  oval  form,  not
so  deep  as  wide,  upper  surface  somewhat  sunken  in  middle,  the  shell

♦  Already  described  {anteh^  p.  386)  in  detail  and  compared  with  ova  of  Mimas
tiliae  and  Amorpha  populu


SMERINTHUS  OCELIJITA.  431

shining)  covered  with  a  very  slight  reticulation,  the  colour  light,  tender
yellow-green.  Three  or  four  days  before  hatching,  the  young  larva  can
be  seen  curled  up,  its  colour  not  so  green  as  the  rest  of  the  egg  outside
it,  and  before  long  its  red  horn  becomes  conspicuous  (Hellins).  Bright
emerald-green,  with  a  pearly  lustre  when  first  laid  (Bacot).  Partheno-
genesis has  been  recorded  in  this  species  (antea^  vol.  i.,  pp.  27 — 29).
