OCR Text |
Show 1890.] MR. A. THOMSON'S REPORT O N T H E INSECT-HOUSE. 95 African. Antheraa cytherea. Diurnal Lepidoptera. Papilio machaon. podalirius. Vanessa antiopa. Papilo afax. asterias. * philenor. Smerinthus ocellatus. lilies. populi. Sphinx ligustri. Deilephila euphorbice. galii. * dahli. *Macroglossa croatica. European. Vanessa levana. Limenitis populi. American. Papilio turnus. Limenitis disippus. *Goniloba titgrus. Nocturni. Bombyx rhadama. Saturnia pyri. *Lasiocampa otus. Endromis versicolor. *Pseudophia tirrhcea. Eacles imperialis. * regalis. Of the insects which I have the honour to place before the Meeting this evening the following are exhibited for the first time, viz.:-Papilio philenor, Goniloba tityrus, Deilephila dahli, Macro-glossa croatica, Lasiocampa otus, Eacles regalis, and Pseudophia tirrhcea. The fine specimens of Eacles regalis were reared from pupae deposited in the Insect-house by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, F.Z.S. From the cocoons of Lasiocampa otus it has been said that the Greeks and Romans obtained their silk, before the introduction of the silkworm from China. I exhibit some cocoons of this species, and I have no doubt from their appearance that silk of some kind could be obtained from them. '• *Harpax ocellata. Orthoptera. *Diaphemora femorata. On the 15th of July last we received from Col. J. H. Bowker F.Z.S., two living specimens (out of three sent) of the beautiful and interesting Mantis (Harpax ocellata). O n their arrival they were net fully developed, but changed into the perfect state, one on the 27th of July, and one on the 8th of August. Col. Bowker in his letter says:-" I hope they will survive the voyage, as they are most interesting and beat the Chameleon hollow in * Exhibited for the first time. 8* |