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Show 52 MR. A. THOMSON'S REPORT O N THE INSECT-HOUSE. [Feb. I, Deilephila euphorbia. Saturnia pyri. Gharocampa porcellus. carpini. elpenor. *Eurymene dolobraria. nerii. Tryphana fimbria. Hemaris marginalis. Catocala fraxini. Macroglossa fuciformis. nupta. Callimorpha dominula. Of the Silk-producing Moths and their allies, Dirphia tarquinia from South America, and Actias mimosa, Anther act menippe, Saturnia terpsichore, and Attacus mgthimna from South Africa, were all exhibited for the first time. Three specimens of D. tarquinia, so remarkable for the difference in the size and colour of the sexes, emerged in December last; and I have the honour to exhibit a pair this evening. The two cocoons of Actias mimosa, with one cocoon of Attacus mythimna, and one pupa each of A. menippe and S. terpsichore were brought to England by Mrs. Monteiro from South Africa, where she had been collecting insects. The two Actias mimosa emerged in due course, but I am sorry to say were cripples. I managed, however, in the setting, to get them a little into shape. From the cocoon of Attacus mythimna and other two pupae, fine specimens were obtained. During the past season I succeeded for the first time in rearing one specimen of the Great Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) in the Insect-house upon ivy. It was quite by accident that I discovered that the larvae would eat ivy; and I was much surprised, in looking over the case in which the Atlas Moths were kept, to find one larva feeding upon the leaves of the ivy-plant that was growing at the bottom. I then tried the other larvse, which I had feeding upon Berberis vulgaris, with ivy-leaves, and found that they ate them freely, and seemed to prefer them to the barberry; but I regret to say that the whole of the larvse died in the last stage, although they grew to be as large as the one reared. The Moth that was reared emerged on the 17th October, 18S6, after being in the cocoon about six weeks, and although perfect in colour, is one third less in size than those obtained from the imported cocoons. Attacus pernyi, A. cynthia, and Samia cecropia pair readily in confinement ; also Sphinx ligustri, S. pinastri, Deilephila euphorbia, and Charocampa elpenor; and I have reared all from the ova except D. euphorbia. Of European Diurnal Lepidoptera, Melitaa maturna and Charaxes jasius were exhibited for the first time. The larvae (14) of C. jasius were deposited in the Insect-house by Mr. J. H. Leech, F.Z.S., previous to his departure for Japan. These larvse were then feeding upon Arbutus unedo ; but as the supply of that food failed, 1 tried them with Euonymus japonicus, and succeeded in rearing 10 insects from the 14 larvae upon it. Of African Diurnal Lepidoptera, all the species named were ex- * Exhibited for the first time. |