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Show 9G MR. A. THOMSON'S REPORT O N THE INSECT-HOUSE. [Mar. 4, changing colour. What I send you have been transferred Blue Convolvulus to other flowers, and after a few days take the colour of the flowers to which they have been transferred." I did not myself try any experiments in this direction with them, as they were a pair, and I had some hopes of breeding them. They appeared to agree perfectly, but I am sorry to say that on the 19th of August the female attacked and killed the male. During the time they lived together they were never seen to copulate. On the 19th of October the female died. These insects during life were very beautiful, especially immediately after the change to the perfect state, and I have the pleasure of exhibiting three characteristic coloured sketches, from life, by Mr. H. Goodchild, and also two photographs taken by Mr. D. Turner Belding, which, however, I am sorry to say, have not come out very well. I have also the honour to exhibit:- I. The two " skins " of these insects which were cast on July 27th and August 8th respectively. II. The male insect (or rather as much as was left of it after the female had killed it), set with its wings spread out. III. The female, set as near as possible in the position assumed during life, to show the mode of catching and holding its prey. I may here mention that these insects while living in the Gardens fed upon flies only. IV. The " batch " of ova formed on a twig by the female about 8 days before death. The layer of ova nearest the twig was laid first and during one night, and the upper layer was laid and completed during the third night after tbe first layer was laid. Early in the spring of last year Mr. J. B. Williams, of Toronto, was good enough to send us a number of ova of a species of Stick-insect (Diaphemora femorata). The first specimen emerged on the 1 lth of June, and others from time to time during the summer. Nearly all the specimens lived and did well, feeding upon hazel-leaves. They changed their " skins " four times before reaching maturity. After the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd changes they were of a bright grass-green colour ; but after the 4 th and last change the males were of a brownish colour, with the front pair of legs green, the four other legs brown to the second joint, and the rest of the legs green. The females were all green except the abdomen, which was of a greenish-brown colour. These insects copulated frequently, and produced a large number of ova, which I hope to be able to hatch during the coming summer. I exhibit this evening a male and female of this species. The female is set to show the manner in which these insects, when at rest, employ their front pair of legs to protect their very long and slender antennas. I also exhibit a female set upon a spray of grass, to °-ive some idea of how well these creatures are protected during life by their form and colour. |