-1 893-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 265 



Indeed, our experience with- a great number of caterpillars of 

 antiopa is, that the mature " worm " in the act of suspending, is 

 rather awkward, more so than the larvae of other native butter- 

 flies, many of them failing to fasten the cremaster in the button 

 of silk and perishing in the fall. 



Many butterflies will remain motionless for three or four hours 

 after their wings have begun to expand, and we have kept some 

 a whole day by darkening the cage or box. Others become active 

 in a short time and cannot be persuaded to remain in a quiet con- 

 dition, even in a darkened room. 



Several butterflies in the same cage soon set up a fluttering, 

 and, to secure an absolutely faultless specimen, individual pupae 

 must be isolated, unless your cage is very large. 



Of all the patience-trying lepidopters with which we recollect 

 having had dealings, Grapta progne is the most perverse. It is 

 active as soon as its wings are expanded and such a flutterer as 

 it is! It gives one no end of trouble before it is ready to set. Of 

 eleven pupae of this species but two unblemished specimens are 

 to be seen on the setting-board. Indeed, one pupa never lost a 

 whit of its activity from larvahood, but kept up a knocking against 

 the side of the box that could be heard all over the room. One 

 had to but touch die box to give this nervous little chrysalis an 

 excuse for a fresh spell of drumming. It kept up this activity 

 even after the colors of the imago were plainly visible through 

 the pupal skin, to within less than an hour of its emergence as a 

 butterfly. 



Of the ten other pupae no such behaviour was noticeable, and 

 movement could be provoked only by handling. 



I once reared fifty larvae of the luna moth, and of that number 

 of cocoons there were, perhaps, a dozen that kept up a rattling 

 motion, all Winter. One pupa would begin to turn in his co- 

 coon and the others, as if listening for the signal to join in the 

 "racket," would follow, and, for several minutes, pandemonium 

 would reign supreme in the box. Invariably a movement on the 

 part of one would arouse the rest, governed, doubtless, by feeling, 

 or a kindred sensation. We have known fresh pupae of Eacles 

 imperialism.^ Anisota stigma to move pretty much all over a box 

 by using the cremaster as a cane. 



The pupae of polyphemns are not so active as those of /nna, 

 but both are more nervous than chrysalids of cecropia and pro- 

 met hea. Regalis is less demonstrative than imperial is. The 

 test of a live pupa is to pour a little cold water or blow the breath 

 upon the object when even a slight movement will give the desired 

 information. 



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