244 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGISl". 



three would probably be the maximum ordinarily, even then one or more 

 would probably have to emigrate to a fresh fruit before becoming full-fed], 

 having been reared in the interior of the small fruit now exhibited. Of 

 the mode in which the eggs are deposited by the female in the interior of 

 the pomegranate no information has been received ; it is, however, 

 probable that this is effected whilst the fruit is in its very young state. 

 [The eggs are laid by the butterfly in the calyx of the flower of the young 

 fruit.] The caterpillars feed upon the seeds and inner part of the fruit, 

 which is thus rendered weak and unable to support its own weight, and 

 consequently liable to have its stem broken and to fall to the ground with 

 the first wind. This, however, would be destruction to the inclosed in- 

 sects since, in all probability, they would find it impossible to make their 

 escape were the fruit to be suffered to lie rotting upon the ground. To 

 obviate this evil, the caterpillars, when full fed, have the instinct to eat a 

 hole [this is incorrectly stated, there is always a hole in the fruit for the 

 larva to cast forth its dejections,] about a quarter of an inch in diameter 

 through the hard shell of the fruit whilst it remains upon the tree ; 

 through this hole they then creep to the stem of the fruit, and spin a 

 white web, which they attach to the basal part of the fruit as well as to 

 the stem, for about the distance of an inch along the latter. This web 

 is sufficiently strong to support the pomegranate from falling after the 

 wind has broken the stem near the fruit 



" From the circumstance of this specimen of the fruit exhibited, 

 having as many holes in it as there were caterpillars inhabiting it, it is 

 most probable that the web thus spun is a joint production of the whole. 

 It is curious, as evidencing the instinctive impulses under which each of 

 the inclosed larvae must have acted, that, instead of availing themselves 

 of the first aperture made in the fruit, each caterpillar should be at the 

 trouble of making a hole for itself, a circumstance which renders it the 

 more probable that all joined in spinning the web. 



" But it will be at once asked, what necessity could there be for the 

 caterpillars to secure the fruit from falling after each has bored a hole, 

 and thus made its escape ? This question is answered by a curious 

 circumstance that, after so securing the fruit, the caterpillars return again 

 into the pomegranate, in the hollow interior of which they undergo their 

 transformations to the chrysalis state. 



" Here, too, we may notice another interesting fact, namely : — that 



