OCR Text |
Show 1881.] REPORTS ON THE INSECT-HOUSE. 821 by Lord Walsingham on the 4th instant. Four have spun up in the moss and, I hope, changed to pupae; but it is best not to disturb them at present. One has died. This cage now contains the larvae of Attacus atlas. No. 13. Papilio machaon.-Small larvae were obtained from the Cambridge fens on the first day of the month and placed in the cage. They grew rapidly, feeding upon carrot-top, and spun up in 10 days ; they are now (August) emerging perfect and of full size. This is the second brood of this species. All the pupae obtained changed on the top of the cage, and were not, as usual, of a pale yellow-green deepening to a fine dark green along the back, but were dirty white, changing to a dark amber-colour along the back. I have seen pupae of this species of the same colour from Germany and France (reared in confinement), but only very rarely in England. No. 14. Deilephila euphorBia.-Pupae of this species emerged during the month in fine condition; and the imagos were much admired. Two of these were observed hovering over the flowers in a most natural manner. No. 15. Erebia medea.-The larvse of this species placed in the cage in June produced fine imagos almost every day during July. No. 16. Lycana corydon.-Larvae of this pretty little Butterfly were obtained from Canterbury and fed up, changing to healthy pupae, and producing many imagos during the early part of the month. The cage is now tenanted with Smerinthus ocellatus. No. 17. Polyommatusphleas.-Larvae of this little Butterfly were obtained and placed in the cage, and fed upon Bumex; they produced perfect specimens about the middle of the month for some days. After this species was over, the cage was stocked with Sphinx ligustri. No. 18. Saturnia carpini.-Larvae obtained from eggs spun up on the 17th instant; a further supply of larvae which was obtained produced cocoons about the same time, a nice lot of which are reserved for next spring. No. 19. Vanessa antiopa.-Larvae of various growths and pupae of this species were obtained from Germany; and imagos appeared from the 21st instant, the three stages being exhibited alive. The imagos feasted upon over-ripe plums placed in the cage for them. No. 20. Zygcena filipendula.-Larvae and pupae of this species were obtained from the South coast, and the imagos emerging in a few days made a very pretty exhibition during most of the month in this cage. No. 21. Choerocampa elpenor.-A full-fed larva of this species was presented by Mrs. Frances Smith on the 16th instant, having been found in her garden devouring the fuchsias ; it spun up under the moss the following day. A further supply of the larvae was obtained a few days later ; some of them have spun up ; others are still feeding upon Virginian Creeper, an excellent substitute for Galium, their usual food-plant. No. 22. Lasiocampa quercifolia.-Imagos of this species have been exhibited throughout the month ; many fertile eggs were also |