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Show 294 MR. A. THOMSON'S REPORT O N THE INSECT-HOUSE. [Mar. 7, Of the Lepidopterous Insects Avhich I have the honour to place before the meeting, Attacus pryeri, Actias artemis, Rhodia fugax, from Japan, Actias leto (females), from the Himalayas, and Auto-meris rubrescens, from Buenos Ayres, were exhibited for the first time during the past season. I have received during the past three years cocoons of the beautiful Indian Moth Actias leto (the female of which is known as Actias mamas); but Avith the exception of the last consignment (which Avas received on Dec. 26th) all the Moths emerged en route, and iu this case I found that all the males had emerged. The box in which the cocoons were packed, being made of tin, Avas badly crushed in the post, but I was pleased to find that eleven cocoons contained living pupae. They Avere immediately placed in the Insect-house, and on the 28th of December a fine and perfect specimen of the Moth emerged, and the remainder during the next fortnight. Three of the cocoons produced specimens of Actias selene. I regret to say that with the exception of the two perfect specimens Avhich I exhibit this evening, and tAvo others not quite perfect, all the Moths that emerged Avere useless cripples. This is, hoAvever, I believe, the first time that this species has been exhibited in Europe alive. The specimens of Rhodia fugax were reared from ova received from Japan. The larvae fed well upon sallow and plum, aud in due time spun their curious cocoons, some of which I exhibit, together with a sketch of the larva. AYhen the Moths emerge they soften the opening of the cocoon, but, as will be seen, they harden again afterAvards, and the cocoons have the same appearance as before the Moths emerged. The larvse of this Moth make a curious squeaking noise when disturbed. Together with the cocoons of Actias mimosce, which we received from Delagoa Bay, Avas a small smooth cocoon. From this emerged the female specimen of Lebeda koellikeri, which I exhibit this evening. I have set the Moth in exactly the same position as that in Avhich it rested on the Airgin cork in the case, so as to show the curious shape of the upper margin of the under-wings. During the past season several specimens of the Goliath Beetle (Goliathus druryi) were receiA-ed, but did not live very long. A specimen of " Bhinoceros " Beetle (Oryctes boas), from Port Elizabeth, was presented by Miss Matcham and Captain Travers on February 24, and lived till August 5. The specimen (which I exhibit) used to burrow in the sand very rapidly, and when doing so laid its horn back in the manner shown in the " setting." When walking about above the ground it carried the horn upright or nearly so. Its principal food was bananas. One of the most remarkable inmates of the Insect-house at the present time is a very fine specimen of the Giant Centipede (Scolopendra qigas), from Trinidad, which was presented by Mr. B. B. Mole, July 7, 1898 (see P. Z. S. 1898, p. 587). This Centipede, on arrival at the Gardens, was in rather poor condition, but it fed voraciously tAvice a week, and entirely con- |
